Woman found dead after being reported missing - Northumbria Police, December 2017

A woman contacted Northumbria Police in December 2017 to report that her wife was missing from home. She explained her wife was suicidal and under treatment for mental health issues, and had previously attempted to take her own life. She explained her wife had gone out shopping in her car, but had since turned off her mobile telephone. Northumbria Police conducted local enquiries and extensive searches of a number of rural areas in Northumbria and obtained mutual aid from Durham Constabulary to facilitate searches in that force area. Northumbria Police made enquiries regarding financial transactions that the missing woman had made, which indicated that she had just bought a set of telescopic ladders. This heightened concerns for the woman. She was found dead the next day. A verdict of suicide was recorded at the inquest, held in autumn 2018.

Our investigators obtained statements from family members. They also obtained statements from police officers involved in the police missing person investigation and in the process of assessing the risk to the missing woman. Investigators reviewed Northumbria Police documentation produced during the investigation, together with relevant policies and procedures.

Our investigation concluded there was no indication any police officer or member of police staff may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or committed a criminal offence. All police officers and staff co-operated fully with this investigation.