Katrina O’Hara

During the inquest evidence was heard that: On 29th December 2015, Miss OHara telephoned 999 to report that was stalking and harassing her and that he had assaulted her and threatened to kill her_ It was established by the call handler that Miss OHara's call was not a emergency, so she was advised to call back on 101, the non-emergency line Miss OHara did not telephone again, though her adult son, telephoned the police, without her knowledge, on 30th December 2015 to report what he had been told about Ibehaviour. Although Dorset Police have now changed their policy, so that if Miss OHara's call was received today the 999 call handler would have taken the details, that change has arisen out of investigations conducted into the circumstances surrounding Miss OHara's death. senior Dorset Police Officer who gave evidence regarding the changes made in Dorset was not able to provide an assurance that similar policies are adopted by police forces nationwide. Miss OHara's son, contacted the police on 30th December 2015 to report his concerns about the risk posed to his mother,. also expressed concern about the risk posed to himself: had told others he was on the ninth page of his suicide note. In addition, in preceding 6 weeks the police had been called at least four times to attend upon with regards to concerns for _his welfare; hehad made repeated threats to family and will being the others that he would take his own life: A senior police officer with considerable domestic abuse experience that reviewed the incident of 30th December 2015 created following Icall, recognised that the suicide risk posed to himself increased the risk that posed to Miss OHara. However, the recognition of suicide risk of perpetrator as particular and significant high risk factor for victim, was not explicitly recognised in the Dorset Police Domestic Abuse Investigation Policy and Procedure until more recently: A senior Dorset Police Officer who gave evidence regarding the changes made in Dorset was not able to provide an assurance that similar policies are being adopted by police forces nationwide: iii . After Miss OHara's adult son, contacted the police on 30th December 2015, police made contact with Miss OHara, She confirmed the account provided by her son and attended a local police station to provide statement to the police: When Miss OHara provided statement to the police in support of the complaint made on 30th December 2015, Miss OHara's mobile telephone was quite properly seized in order that it could be forensically analysed by police to retrieve evidence that would substantiate the allegations that she made_ However , Miss OHara was not supplied with replacement phone: When approached by lon 7th January 2016, she had no means of contacting the emergency services: Dorset Police now have a large stock of 'pay as you go" mobile phones to supply to the victims of crime who have had their phones seized for evidential purposes; This has arisen in Dorset from learning arising out of investigations into the circumstances surrounding Miss 0Hara's death: have not been assured that such phones are available to victims in similar circumstances across all police forces in England and Wales iv Following the complaint that was made o 30th December 2015, was arrested and interviewed under caution the same was not charged with any offences as further enquiries were required before approaching the Crown Prosecution Service for charging decision: Therefore, he was released on conditional_bail to return to the police station. The condition attached to bail was that he was not to have any contact in any manner whatsoever either directly or indirectly with Katrina OHara. On 4th January 2020, Iwas reported to the police for breaching his bail conditions: he had instructed his daughter to send a text message to Miss OHara's daughter , asking 'will mum drop the charges or not" (referring to the complaint of 30th December 2015), thereby having indirect contact A statement was then taken Miss OHara's daughter by uniformed police officers. However, due to a lack of familiarity with what was, at the time, new police software product that assists the police in managing information and tasks, "Niche"_ the information relating to the breach of bail was not communicated to the officer in the case for thesubstantive matter , Therefore, no action was taken against in relation to the breach of bail conditions and no further investigation, beyond the taking of the statement; was conducted by police: Essentially, the "task' to obtain a statement to evidence the breach of_bail conditions was not linked on Niche to the_original log day: your from

'occurrence" , relating to the substantive occurrence: The net result was that no notification was sent to the officer in the case, when there was an expectation by all police involved on 4th January that such a message would be sent and that the officer in the case could review the breach of bail conditions and decide upon appropriate action: I heard evidence that all officers in Dorset Police have or will be receiving further training in relation to the functionality of Niche and that Dorset Police are exploring the possibility of an officer in particular case receiving an automated notification through Niche if there is an addition to the occurrence log for that case_ I have concerns with regard to the following: I am concerned that Police Forces across England and Wales may still be employing policy similar to that previously employed by Dorset Police, with regard to non-emergency calls made to 999. Dorset Police have recognised the courage it takes a victim of domestic violence to make a call to the police so have now ensured that, depending on the risk level and whether police attendance will be required, the call will either be taken by the 999 call hander, 0r, where it is deemed that no police attendance at time is required, the caller will be called back at a later convenient time. It is no longer left to the victim to make a subsequent call to the police in relation to the same complaint: The concern is that if similar policies are not in place across the police forces in England and Wales, victims of offences, who may have had to take a huge risk to themselves or others to make the call to the police, are asked to call back on a different number if their call is not categorised as an emergency. Dorset Police have changed their Domestic Abuse Investigation and Procedure to include the suicide risk of the perpetrator of domestic abuse as significant risk factor to the victim of domestic abuse This is recent change and reflects the growing understanding that the perpetrator who has "nothing left to lose' poses a significant risk to his or her victim: I am concerned that this change in policy in Dorset may not be reflected nationwide_ iii _ It is not unusual that the mobile phones of victims are seized by police as part of investigation into domestic abuse related allegations. Until the death of Miss O'Hara, Dorset Police did not provide replacement phones, leaving victims potentially without means to communicate with others, including in an emergency: As stated above, Dorset Police now have a store of mobile phones available to supply to victims where their phone has been seized as evidence_ Iam concerned that this may not be in place across the police forces of England and Wales and that victims in some areas are being left without the means of contacting others, including the emergency services, when their phones have been seized by police during an investigation.
iv. "Niche" is a software program used by, I understand, 23 police forces across England and Wales I do not know if_more forces are due to likely any being Policy adopt Niche in the future: I am concerned that appropriate training needs to be provided to police officers to ensure have good understanding of Niche and how to 'link" events to an occurrence and to ensure that the appropriate individuals, for example the officer leading an investigation, are notified of any developments in a case