Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Barry Spooner

Ref: 2025-0331 Date: 1 Jul 2025 Coroner: Nathanael Hartley Area: Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Responses identified: 1 / 1 View PDF

Inadequate information sharing by police with Adult Social Care means prior public protection notices are not consistently provided, hindering full risk assessment and decision-making for vulnerable individuals.

Date 1 Jul 2025

56-day deadline 26 Aug 2025 est.

Responses identified 1 of 1

Police related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary

View full coroner's concerns

1. Insufficient information sharing from Nottinghamshire Police to the Local Authority in the event of a public protection concern.

I heard evidence about the new Vulnerability Policy followed by the police in order to try to improve information sharing between organisations. I was told that when a PPN is completed and sent to the MASH it is considered by an experienced officer who decides whether or not to refer it on to Adult Social Care for their consideration. If they decide not to refer onwards then the officer will consider all PPNs from the previous 12 months. If this review causes them to change their opinion then the current PPN and the previous PPNs will be referred onwards. This ensures Adult Social Care has all relevant information to help them decide upon the best course of action.

In accordance with the Vulnerability Policy, it was explained to me that when a PPN is considered suitable for referral to Adult Social Care straight away then previous PPNs are not reviewed and sent on to Adult Social Care if they have not already had them. This means that in a scenario where there have been previous PPNs that have not been provided to Adult Social Care, then that team will not be aware of all of the relevant information when considering the referral from the MASH and the most appropriate course of action.

This may impact upon Adult Social Care’s ability to make a proper decision in such cases and may put vulnerable people at more of a risk depending upon whether previous PPNs have been provided to Adult Social Care, or not.

Responses

1 respondent

Nottinghamshire Police Police / Law Enforcement

22 Aug 2025 PDF

Action Planned

Nottinghamshire Police will be amending their information sharing processes so that PPNs considered suitable for referral to adult social care will be accompanied by PPNs from the previous 12 months that were not previously deemed suitable for sharing, commencing 1st October 2025. (AI summary)

View full response

Dear Sir,

Re: Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths - Barry Spooner

I write by way of response to the Regulation 28 report that was issued on 1st July 2025.

As a result of the report, your concerns have been discussed with our partner agencies who are integral to information sharing in the context of safeguarding.

We will be amending our information sharing processes to address the concerns raised so that in the event that a PPN is considered suitable for referral to adult social care, these will be accompanied by any PPN’s from the previous 12 months which had not previously been deemed suitable for sharing.

In order to allow for the logistical aspects of this change to be implemented, this has been agreed to commence from the 1st of October 2025.

Force Headquarters Sherwood Lodge Arnold Nottingham NG5 8PP

We hope that this adequately addresses your concern and allows adult social care to make fully informed decisions moving forward.

Report sections

Investigation and inquest

On 10 July 2023 an inquest was opened into the death of Barry Christopher Spooner, aged 74. The inquest concluded on 17th June 2025. I made a determination at inquest that he died as a result of unlawful killing.

Circumstances of the death

Mr Spooner engaged with the police on 7 occasions between 25 May 2021 and 15 May 2023 following concerns raised by himself, and others, about a female. Concerns included that she was exploiting him for his money in order to buy drugs. Officers who liaised with him for incidents on 27 August 2021, 10 September 2021, 15 October 2021 and 15 May 2023 completed Public Protection Notices (PPNs) and submitted them to the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). Of those that were submitted, three were referred onwards to Adult Social Care, but that from 15 October 2021 was not.

The Probation Service engaged with the female during the same period up until 22 January 2023. I heard evidence about the manner in which she was managed by the probation service.

Mr Spooner was exploited financially by the female until his death, and she made efforts to access his bank account, most probably after he had died. He was found in his home address having been murdered by the female.

Copies sent to

2. The Probation Service3. Nottingham City Council4. Independent Office of Police Complaints

Similar PFD reports

Shared signals

Related inquiry recommendations

Report details

Reference: 2025-0331
Date of report: 1 July 2025
Coroner: Nathanael Hartley
Coroner area: Nottingham and Nottinghamshire

Responses identified

Responses identified 1 of 1

All listed responses identified

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 26 Aug 2025 (estimated).

Sent to

Nottinghamshire Police

Source links

Judiciary.uk page → Report PDF →

Data: judiciary.uk under OGL.