Missing person found dead after concerns for welfare reported – Northumbria Police, February 2021

A man contacted Northumbria Police to report his brother-in-law was missing. Two police officers attended the missing person’s address shortly after. One officer took details from the family whilst the other officer searched the house. The officers then left. A few hours later, a family member realised the loft hatch in the garage was blocked so contacted police again. Other officers arrived, and sadly located the missing person deceased in the loft above the garage.

A few weeks later, another family member contacted Northumbria Police and complained that police did not find him in the first search of the house, which they argued could have saved his life.

During the investigation, we obtained statements from the two officers who initially attended the house, the Inspector in charge of the shift, and the partner of the deceased. We obtained the relevant Northumbria Police incident log and the MISPER record for the missing person. We also obtained and analysed local missing person guidance and body worn video (BWV) policy.

Our investigation concluded in July 2021.

We concluded that no police staff or officer had a case to answer for misconduct or gross misconduct. In addition, we did not believe that any matter should be considered as part of the Reflective Practice Review Process.

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 identified potential learning recommendations in this investigation. Northumbria Police notified us that they had identified organisational learning regarding search parameters relating to this incident. They explained they have made the officers who initially attended, and all officers across the area command, aware of best practice when attending reports of missing persons and included the expectations in respect of searches.

Following such consultation with Northumbria Police, it was determined that issuing organisational learning was not required. Northumbria Police were already progressing one matter, and the second did not require a learning recommendation.