Source · IOPC Learning Case

Recommendations - Lancashire Constabulary, April 2023

Lancashire Constabulary Ref: 2022/173206 Recommended 28 Apr 2023 Response due 23 Jun 2023

Death and serious injury Domestic abuse

We identified organisational learning from a local death or serious injury report where staff at a woman's refuge contacted police about a resident who had been seen arguing with a man who was suspected of domestic abuse towards her in the past. The resident did not return to the refuge despite contact with her over the phone and reassurance from her that she would return.

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Recommendations

2 total

Recommendation 1

The IOPC recommends that Lancashire Constabulary review and clarify what it means when it states that an incident should be 'treated as urgent'. This should provide clarification for the role and sections of control room staff, the deployment of officers and any escalation that is required to supervisors'. This follows a Death or Serious Injury case (DSI) in which staff at a women's refuge contacted police about a resident who had been seen arguing with a man who had been suspected of being responsible for domestic abuse towards her in the past. The call was downgraded despite there being a 'treat as urgent' marker, with units being diverted to other grade 2 calls. The female did not return to the refuge but was later admitted to hospital after a suspected suicide attempt. She passed away a few days later. Do you accept the recommendation? Yes

Addressed to: Lancashire Constabulary

Linked bodies: Lancashire Constabulary

Accepted

Force response

Accepted action: Since May 2022 – all Concern for Welfare incidents are dealt with in accordance with Lancashire Constabulary’s Right Care Right Person Policy – guidance will be issued to Lancashire Constabulary’s Force Control Room to implement this recommendation in relation to concern for welfare incidents which Lancashire Constabulary have made a deployment decision in relation too. This has already been implemented in training conducted with the Force Control Room.

Recommendation 2

The IOPC recommends that Lancashire Constabulary amend their Force Policy and/or Guidance in relation to reports of Missing Person/s and/or Concern for Welfare calls to include; When a subject of a concern for welfare request is subsequently reported as safe and well, call handlers use their professional curiosity to satisfy themselves that this is the case. This may include deploying officers for a physical check where deemed necessary. This follows a Death or Serious Injury case (DSI) in which staff at a woman's refuge contacted police about a resident who had been seen arguing with a man who had been suspected of being responsible for domestic abuse towards her in the past. The female did not return to the refuge despite contact with her over the phone and reassurance from her that she would return. The woman was later admitted to hospital after a suspected suicide attempt. She passed away a few days later. Contact was made with the woman on a number of occasions and it was clear that she needed safeguarding and protecting from the male and possibly herself. There was a willingness to accept verbal assurances that the woman was alright and these should have been viewed with more suspicion in light of some injuries she had sustained. Do you accept the recommendation? Yes

Addressed to: Lancashire Constabulary

Linked bodies: Lancashire Constabulary

Accepted

Force response

Accepted action: Guidance will be issued to Lancashire Constabulary’s Force Control Room for staff to no longer use the term “treat as urgent” in relation to incidents and reinforce that all incidents should be graded in accordance with existing PASS and THRIVE policies and guidance. This will be reinforced through staff training.