Alfred Sykes

Dear and pul

The PoISASearch Manager was provided wilh Ihis information shorlly afler coming on duty at 0700hrs on Ihe 8" February; with confirmation that the male Ihe wilness had spoken to was in facl Mr Sykes being obtained after OgoOhrs The PolSASearch Manager recognised the significance oflhe information provided by this wilness and based all search advice around 300 metres of the new place last seen (PLS) of 22 Egeron Road As guidance to a reasonable, realistic and proportionale size of search area a 300 meters radius around the PLS is recommended and nationally recognised in order lo achieve a high level of confidence radius of 300 metres equales lo a tolal search area of 283,239 Square meters (or 69.9 acres) The 300 metre radius will always be a guide ad natural boundaries should be used such as main roads, motorways railway lines, fences etc The decision on which boundaries are selected can be subjective ad will be recommended by Ihe PolSASearch Manager allocated to the investigation Woodsmoor Lane was selecled as the boundary to Ihe south of the 300 metre radius and as a resull lhe fields did not form part of the search area (hal police resources where (asked to The PLS can move the course of a search as more information Or searching uncovers more sightings or signs As with this investigation, eighteen reports of sighlings were received by the police, there will oflen be reports of sightings of the missing person which lurn out to be incorrect To avoid ad hoc searching it is Iherefore important Ihal the PLS is not changed based on these reports until confirmed sighting is received Once the search of the 300 melres around (he PLS has been completed, if the person has not been found Ihe search should be planned according lo a combinalion of (he missing person behaviour profile and the 'geographic profile' . In olher words, link the behaviour type of the missing person to the actual terrain; In addition (o providing search areas for divisional police resources to search wilhin the 300 metre radius, the PoISASearch Manager, in a attempt (o identify potential route, oblained Ihe services of Mountain Rescue Team trailing dog Having oblained piece of clothing belonging to Mr Sykes, the lrailing handler commenced his search southwards on Egerlon Road passing Ihe fields and heading in the direction of Mr Sykes home address. Unfortunalely lhe course of the search no positive trail was achleved It is accepted that as a resull of Ihis new information including a direction of travel, references lo a sports field and confirmalion that Ihe male spoken to was in facl Mr Sykes, the search parameters should have Postal address Greater Manchester Police; Openshaw Complex Lawlon Street; Openshaw Manchester M11 2NS during dog during

been reviewed and the fields located off Woodsmoor Lane should have formed part of the search area and (reated as a priority. Extract from Regulation 28 However Ihe significance of the sighting and the information was not lost on two police officers who on their own initiative looked around the playing fields In evidence, ladvised that just two police officers for such & large area was insufficient agree Response:| stated during Ihe inquest Ihe fields were searched by one officer, when in fact it was searched by two. The fields located off Woodsmoor Lane should have formed part of the search area and as such search trained police officers or members of the Mountain Rescue Team with the appropriale experience and training should have been deployed into the playing fields . Extract from Regulation 28 Had (here been a greater number of officers deployed on (he morning of 8h February t0 search the fields t0 which Alfred Sykes had been directed and was Iast seen walking towards, it is likely he would have been found that morning: Response: If all of the fields in the direction Mr Sykes was travelling had been included within the reviewed search area based on the new PLS; then more resources with Ihe required skills and experience would have been deployed into this area On this occasion the decision was made to deploy Mountain Rescue Team resources lowards Bramhall Park where Mr Sykes had previously been located. Deploying sufficient suitably trained resources into the localion of the fields would have increased Ihe possibility of locating Mr Sykes earlier and polentially thal morning Extract from Requlation 28 The evidence is Ihat Alfred Sykes would not have been found alive, in combination his frailties the weather but in different circumstances (particularly the weather} the outcome might have been different for him and for others in the future. Further, earlier discovery would have; Lessened the anguish for (he family; Saved resources in the continued search over lhe following 3 days: Response: Not deploying search resources inlo (he fields off Woodsmoor Lane likely delayed (he discovery of Mr Sykes, potentially resulling in search and investigation (asks which may not have been Postal addrass Greater Manchester Police, Openshaw Complex; Lawon Street; Openshaw; Manchester M11 2NS and and

required If the fields were inaccessible at (he malerial time, this would impact on (he decision t0 search them but this would be a decision for the PoISA based on the (acts presented As wilh all incidents there will always be learning opportunities in order t0 improve the Police response and minimise fulure potential risks Missing Person Review process missing person investigation will always be ted by the police division from which Ihe person has gone missing and the role of the PoISASearch Manager i5 to provide advice and manage searches Greater Manchesler Police currently have a dedicaled Specialist Search Unit comprising of a Search Coordinalor (PoISC) and seven PoISA'$, also referred to as Missing Persons Search Managers These officers provide continuous 24/7 support to the force in respect of all search relaled matters including Missing Persons Having a dedicated unit allows for continuity and constant peer review of investigations and the search approach being adopted As a high risk missing person investigalion becomes protracted over a period of lime, the force Search Coordinator may request a peer review by a PoISA from another force with no previous involvement in the investigation or by the Nalional Search Advisor. This allows for an independent review of the investigation and ensures Iha' the most appropriate search tactics are being adopted. In respect of the investigalion into Mr Sykes Ihe search was nol protracled however the review by a different PoISA with no involvement should have been compleled as best practice Missing Person Reviews As a result of this report, with immediate effecl all high risk missing person searches conducted by a PoISA from the Specialist Search Unit; will be reviewed by anolher officer on a daily basis and the Po SC (Force Search Coordinator) appraised of the circumslances at (he earliest opportunity. This will ensure Ihat search strategles are appropriale and proportionate lo the invesligalion whilst also allowing the PoISC to refer outside of the force if deemed appropriate PoISAISearch Manager Continuous Professional Development In order lo remain operationally competent PoISA s must adhere to strict criteria set by the PNSC which includes coordinaling a minimum of number of searches annually and completing a minimum number of hours of continuous professional development; activity and compelency levels are overseen by the forces Search Coordinator (PoISC) Postal addross Grealer Manchester Police; Openshaw Complex. Lawton Street Openshaw Manchester M11 2NS being The

As a result of this incident, the annual PoISA/Search Manager CPD will now include refresher training by way of an exercise in respect of missing person search, using Incidents that have occurred within the force or nationally or the previous twelve months. This will ensure that officers remain operationally compelent and any (raining issues can be appropriately addressed,