Response to concern for welfare reports - Derbyshire Constabulary, May 2017

Derbyshire Constabulary received three reports on 15 May 2017 relating to concerns for a woman who appeared to be having mental health issues. Officers were deployed, on one occasion with the mental health triage team, but were unable to locate her. The woman was killed by a train later that evening after laying on the tracks. The inquest subsequently returned a conclusion of suicide.

During the investigation, our investigators obtained accounts from the officers, interviewed witnesses and reviewed call and airwave recordings.

The investigation found no indication anyone involved in the incident behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or committed a criminal offence. However, we were of the opinion that the performance of one member of police staff, who had downgraded the incident in the (incorrect) belief that the woman had been found safe and well, was unsatisfactory.

After reviewing our report Derbyshire Constabulary agreed, and confirmed that the member of staff would be subjected to unsatisfactory performance procedure.