Recommendation - Nottinghamshire Police, March 2022
Organisational learning was identified from a review where Nottinghamshire Police were called to attend a report of a man at his home address having taken his own life.
IOPC reference
Recommendations
The IOPC recommends that Nottinghamshire Police review their policy/guidance for high risk cases in relation to safeguarding and suicide risk assessments, to ensure that these are conducted at the 'known trigger points' of an investigation.
This follows a case where police were called to attend to a report of a male found at his home address having taken his own life. Police ascertained that the male was due in Court the following day for a number of offences including the possession of Indecent Images of Children and an historic sexual abuse allegation involving the presence of a child.
Safeguarding and welfare checks had been completed in relation to the male and a referral to a Mental Health team was made. However, there was no additional contact in the 3 weeks prior to the Court date. The National College of Policing has stipulated that Safeguarding and suicide risk assessments should be conducted at known trigger points of an investigation. These include: arrest, charge, answering bail/extensions and court appearances.
Do you accept the recommendation?
Yes
Accepted action:
Amendments to the existing policy have been made and will be submitted to the Supt in due course. The delay in actioning this has been due to seeking support from L&D, who are recommended to take on the contact role post charge, as it is recognised that contact from an officer can be an additional trigger.
That meeting with L&D is not able to take place until July owing to their availability.