Investigation into police contact with a woman and man between 2016 and 2018 - Greater Manchester Police, August 2020

Published 08 Aug 2022
Investigation

In February 2018, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) received a report of a man having jumped from a second floor window covered in blood. Police officers forced entry into his residence where they found a woman who had sustained fatal stab wounds. 

In August 2018, the man was convicted of her murder. 

There were a number of domestic incidents involving the man and woman reported to the police from March 2016.

During our investigation, we specifically investigated:
- GMP’s response to reported incidents involving the man and woman between March 2016 and 13 February 2018.
- GMP’s decision not to prosecute the man in relation to an incident in August 2016, where the woman alleged she had been assaulted by him.
- GMP’s response to concerns raised by the man's family regarding his behaviour and his relationship with the woman.

The IOPC looked at the contact between GMP, and the victim and suspect throughout the course of their relationship, up to within a few days of the murder. 

We analysed recorded incidents and any related material, including public protection and crime paperwork. We took statements from police officers and the man's family regarding concerns that they raised with GMP.  

Our investigation concluded in February 2019.

We found no indication that a person serving with the police may have committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner justifying the bringing of disciplinary proceedings. 

We carefully considered whether there were any learning opportunities arising from the investigation. We make learning recommendations to improve policing and public confidence in the police complaints system and prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

We did find individual learning for an officer and organisational learning. 

IOPC reference

2018/099573
Date of recommendation
Date response due

Recommendations