Woman injured after reporting threats - Metropolitan Police Service, August 2018

Published 29 Nov 2018
Investigation

On 3 August 2018, a woman who was eight months pregnant attended a police station in north-west London to report a man for making threats to her and her family. The woman also told Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers that the man had previously slapped her around the head. The man was the woman’s work colleague and neighbour in a house of multiple occupancy. Officers created a crime report and police took steps to contact the woman for further information in the days following the report. On 5 August, the suspect stabbed the woman at their home address and fled the scene. The woman and her unborn baby survived the incident. However, police found the man a short while later, hanging from a tree close to the property. The man suffered a severe brain injury and died as a result of his injuries.

Our investigators obtained and analysed CCTV footage and paperwork generated in the parallel police investigation into the injuries sustained by the woman. They also took witness statements from police officers involved in the incident. The injured woman declined to assist with our investigation.

Our investigation did not identify any evidence linking the woman’s injury to anything that the officers did or failed to do.

Based on the evidence available we found no indication that any person serving with the police may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings, or had committed a criminal offence.

IOPC reference

2018/107219