West Midland Police
Police / Law Enforcement
Action Planned
AI-generated response summary
• The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation concluded, and a Professional Standards Department review determined no further action regarding officer conduct. • The organisation identified opportunities for organisational learning concerning search strategy, clarity of search areas, and earlier involvement of a Police Search Advisor (POLSA). • The case will be referred to the National Missing Persons Operational Group to consider amending guidance on search coordination, tasking, and recording.
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Dear Mr McGovern, write in reference to your letter dated 20/07/17 , touching on the death of Ozeivo Andrew Akerele, who went missing on 31/01/15. In your letter you provided the outcome of the inquest as death by misadventure and using your legal powers you raised concerns regarding the police search under paragraph 7 Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. As you will be aware, matters arising from this incident were referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and it was not appropriate to comment whilst the matter was still under investigation: The IOPC investigation has now concluded and we received their written response on 07/09/18. The outcome of the IOPC investigation is as follows:
1) No criminal case to answer.
2) No requirement to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS):
3) No formal recommendations_ The Appropriate Authority in our Professional Standards Department (PSD); has since reviewed the IOPC decision to assess whether the officer's conduct is capable of amounting to gross misconduct or misconduct subject to s.23(6)a)(i) Schedule 3 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The outcome of this review is that no further action will be taken: Under Paragraph 28(1)b) of Schedule 3 of the Police Reform Act 2002, as responded to the IOPC outlining opportunities for organisational learning: In relation to the searching, it does appear that a more comprehensive search strategy and updates could have been compiled, with absolute clarity around who had searched what area, to what extent and at what time_ The individual decisions by land appear reasonable,but a more comprehensive effort would have ensured that the relevant information thatl had accessed the land that thought inaccessible, and the relative limitations of the search that had carried out; would have been more apparent at an earlier stage_ It also appears that an earler invitation to the POLSA may have assisted in the tasking and recording of searches at the earliest opportunity: Preventing crime; protecting the public and helping those in need WWW West-midlands police uk 2 5
The case will now be referred to the National Missing Persons Operational Group to consider working with the Police Search Advisor (POLSA) to amend guidance around how a search is CO- ordinated in similar cases; specifically providing clarity around the tasking of the search, what is being searched for and the accurate recording of search, completed with oversight by Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) and POLSA trust that this response assists with your investigation and would like to apologise for the time that it has taken in responding_ would like to thank you for extensions that you have granted to allow for this matter to be thoroughly reviewed by the IOPC and PSD_ If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me_
1) No criminal case to answer.
2) No requirement to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS):
3) No formal recommendations_ The Appropriate Authority in our Professional Standards Department (PSD); has since reviewed the IOPC decision to assess whether the officer's conduct is capable of amounting to gross misconduct or misconduct subject to s.23(6)a)(i) Schedule 3 of the Police Reform Act 2002. The outcome of this review is that no further action will be taken: Under Paragraph 28(1)b) of Schedule 3 of the Police Reform Act 2002, as responded to the IOPC outlining opportunities for organisational learning: In relation to the searching, it does appear that a more comprehensive search strategy and updates could have been compiled, with absolute clarity around who had searched what area, to what extent and at what time_ The individual decisions by land appear reasonable,but a more comprehensive effort would have ensured that the relevant information thatl had accessed the land that thought inaccessible, and the relative limitations of the search that had carried out; would have been more apparent at an earlier stage_ It also appears that an earler invitation to the POLSA may have assisted in the tasking and recording of searches at the earliest opportunity: Preventing crime; protecting the public and helping those in need WWW West-midlands police uk 2 5
The case will now be referred to the National Missing Persons Operational Group to consider working with the Police Search Advisor (POLSA) to amend guidance around how a search is CO- ordinated in similar cases; specifically providing clarity around the tasking of the search, what is being searched for and the accurate recording of search, completed with oversight by Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) and POLSA trust that this response assists with your investigation and would like to apologise for the time that it has taken in responding_ would like to thank you for extensions that you have granted to allow for this matter to be thoroughly reviewed by the IOPC and PSD_ If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me_