Member of the public assaulted and seriously injured after contact with police - Bedfordshire Police, February 2017

In February 2017 a Bedfordshire Police officer went to see a member of the public at their home in response to them having reported that their partner had allegedly assaulted them and damaged some of their property. The alleged victim did not wish to make a statement.

Following this, a number of Bedfordshire Police officers attempted on different occasions to locate and contact the alleged victim’s partner to ask them to come to the police station regarding the alleged offences.

A few months later, the ambulance service informed Bedfordshire Police that the member of the public who had called the police to report an assault had been found seriously injured after being assaulted.

Our investigators obtained accounts in relation to how Bedfordshire Police dealt with the reported alleged incident of domestic abuse, considered policies and procedures within the force, and obtained witness statements from police officers and a detective inspector.

We found no evidence to suggest that Bedfordshire Police may have caused or contributed to the serious injury sustained by the member of the public.

Based on the evidence available, the investigation found no indication any person serving with the police may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or committed a criminal offence.