Police interactions with a vulnerable woman before her death – Humberside Police, January 2022

A member of the public called the police one evening to report a woman was banging on their doors and windows. The caller believed the woman was under the influence of alcohol. 

Officers arrived and spoke to the caller and the woman. They decided that no offences had been committed and they took the woman back to her house.

Later that evening, members of the public called for an ambulance for a woman who was believed to be under the influence of alcohol. Further officers arrived and identified the woman from the earlier incident. She was being helped home by a group of men. The officers again decided that no offences had been committed. They accompanied the woman back to her house and left her there. 

The woman was found dead in her home by friends approximately 24 hours later. Police officers and paramedics were called to her house. 

We received a complaint referral from the police about the police’s contact with the woman before her death. We began an independent investigation into the matter. 

We obtained witness statements, CCTV footage and recordings of police calls and radio transmissions. We also conducted interviews with the police officers that dealt with the woman. 

We concluded there was no indication that a person serving with the police committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner justifying the bringing of disciplinary proceedings. 

We did find that the final two officers who took the woman home should have taken more time to understand the events of the night. We recommended reflective practice for both officers, and this was completed by the force.

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 recommended that the force review relevant policy and training and amend it to equip frontline officers to assess and manage people who are, or appear to be, under the influence of alcohol. 

We also recommended that particular focus should be given to dealing with people under the influence of alcohol where no criminal offences have been identified. Focus should also be given to the medical and safeguarding implications of severe alcohol intoxication and alcohol withdrawal in alcohol-dependent people, and the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice on drunk and incapable people. 

We recommended that the force should also review the training they deliver to officers on using body worn video (BWV) cameras. 

The force agreed with our recommendations.