Themes | Police Conduct & Accountability | The Accountability Index

Police investigation urgency

Clear absence of urgency and a culture of non-cooperation from some police forces involved in investigations.

147 items 14 sources 3 inquiries

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Committee recommendation

#16 - Some police forces demonstrate an absence of urgency and non-cooperation in investigations.

Home Affairs Committee

There is a clear absence of urgency and a culture of non-co-operation from some police forces involved in investigations. Appropriate sanctions must follow for any officer served with disciplinary proceedings, whether serving or retired. We welcome the legislation that exists to ensure delays to investigations are minimised. Specific reforms were made to the discipline system under the implementation...

Matched on terms: investigation, police, urgency

Committee recommendation

#19 - Unsatisfactory blame-shifting and lack of officer cooperation impede effective investigations.

Home Affairs Committee

It is unsatisfactory and unedifying to hear policing organisations blame the IOPC for delay while the IOPC suggests officers may drag their heels in cooperating with investigations. Nor is it wholly sufficient for Chief Constable Guildford to suggest Police Conduct and Complaints 49 the IOPC could resolve some of that dilemma by using its powers more vigorously; police...

Matched on terms: investigation, police

Michael Thorley

Jul 2015 · Manchester (South)

The coroner identified concerns regarding a significant delay in gaining entry to premises and the absence of a clear policy for forced entry in such emergencies. There were also issues with the initial police investigation, which did not adequately find evidence or consider all potential scenarios.

Matched on terms: investigation, police

IOPC learning recommendation

Investigation into police contact before a death - Northumbria Police, January 2022

The IOPC recommend that Northumbria Police review training for Call Centre staff with regard to risk grading and that domestic violence incidents graded 1 or 2 receive a prompt response. This should be done by continuous dip sampling to check adherence to Call Centre procedures and that Northumbria Police should focus on the THRIVE model and the broader...

Matched on terms: investigation, police

IOPC learning recommendation

Teenager took his own life after calling police for assistance – Kent Police, May 2020

The IOPC recommends that Kent Police provide clarity within their policies and guidance in relation to the grading of and dispatch to incidents where a ‘threat to life’ has been received by the control room, but no exact location is available. This follows an IOPC investigation where an unknown male made an abandoned call to police stating he...

Matched on terms: investigation, police

Jun 2025 · Birmingham and Solihull

The coroner identified differing interpretations and training among police forces regarding 'spontaneous pursuits' guidance. Concerns were also raised about the absence of a full forensic collision investigation report during a conduct investigation by the IOPC into a fatal incident.

Matched on terms: investigation, police

Committee recommendation

#33 - Police prioritisation of human trafficking and modern slavery offences remains unclear.

Home Affairs Committee

The National Crime Agency recognises Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery as a national threat; in consequence it should be a national priority. Yet it remains unclear the extent to which police forces prioritise the detection and investigation of human trafficking and modern slavery offences.

Matched on terms: investigation, police

IOPC learning recommendation

Recommendation - Thames Valley Police, June 2020

The IOPC recommends that Thames Valley Police consider what measures can be taken to improve Contact Management Centre resilience and increase support to staff; with particular regard to the practice of “patching together” Local Policing Area desks. This follows a case where Thames Valley Police did not attend a call which was graded as ‘Urgent Attendance’ for over...

Matched on terms: investigation, police

Christopher Boughton

Jul 2022 · Surrey

The coroner noted a lack of requirement for direct telephone communication between police forces when tasking or transferring investigations, potentially leading to lost information and delays in effective action.

Matched on terms: investigation, police

Committee recommendation

#21 - IOPC and police forces must strengthen efforts to minimise delays and ensure accountability.

Home Affairs Committee

The IOPC must use its powers effectively to minimise delays to investigations at an early stage of the process. It should proactively call to account those responsible for delays or who refuse to co-operate with investigations. Police forces, individual officers and their representative organisations must also take more responsibility for rooting out bad behaviour and lifting the cloud...

Matched on terms: investigation, police

Committee recommendation

#18 - IOPC must expedite investigations and use reinvestigation powers sparingly and judiciously.

Home Affairs Committee

The example of its taking seven years to clear one police officer of misconduct is exceptional, but demonstrates why the IOPC must focus its efforts on concluding investigations as quickly as possible. Quite aside from the effect on an individual’s morale, the removal from officers under investigation from front-line duties for lengthy periods may add to strain on...

Matched on terms: investigation, police

IOPC learning recommendation

Operation Linden recommendations - South Yorkshire Police and College of Policing, November 2021

The IOPC recommends that South Yorkshire Police continues to improve processes that enable SYP and partner agencies to better collaborate so that information that should be available and considered by everyone is effectively shared, understood and acted upon in a timely fashion. This will help to encourage good practice and enable any issues or misunderstandings about the process...

Matched on terms: investigation, police

Jul 2015 · Manchester (South)

The coroner identified significant shortcomings in the police investigation, including a lack of inquiry into missing items, failure to verify the source of blood at the scene, and overlooking a critical laceration that contributed to death. This reflected an insufficient level of thoroughness in evidence collection.

Matched on terms: investigation, police

Aug 2019 · Sunderland

The coroner identified a lack of protection for a victim of domestic abuse when the perpetrator, though under police investigation, had no bail conditions or restrictions. The report requests a review of procedures and resources to protect victims and prevent future deaths.

Matched on terms: investigation, police

HMICFRS recommendation

An inspection of the service provided to victims of crime by Greater Manchester Police

Within three months the force should complete an assessment of the standard and supervision of investigation plans and put in place any identified remedial actions to ensure the plans support a high standard of investigation and a good service to victims.

Matched on terms: investigation, police

IOPC learning recommendation

Failure to investigate indecent exposure – Metropolitan Police Service, February 2021

The IOPC recommends that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) ensures that its call handlers are aware that they have discretion when assigning the length of time slots for police officers to attend car appointments for allegations of sexual offences. This follows an IOPC investigation where an Emergency Response Team (ERT) Officer attended a fast-food restaurant drive-through to conduct...

Matched on terms: investigation, police

IOPC learning recommendation

Recommendations - West Midlands Police, June 2021

The IOPC recommends that West Midlands Police create a detailed question set for call handlers responding to requests from external agencies to conduct welfare checks. The prompts should help call handlers to elicit key information to help inform decision making about who should attend. This recommendation is made as the result of a case whereby a Doctor contacted...

Matched on terms: investigation, police

IOPC learning recommendation

Excessive force alleged during son's arrest - Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, March 2022

The IOPC recommends that Devon and Cornwall Police should take steps to ensure Exeter officers are aware of their duty of cooperation during IOPC investigations. This follows an investigation in which IOPC investigators were met with delays in obtaining statements from numerous police witnesses. The IOPC contacted the officers, providing details of the information required from them and...

Matched on terms: investigation, police

IOPC learning recommendation

Police contact with woman prior to her death - Metropolitan Police Service, October 2020

1) The IOPC recommends the Metropolitan Police reminds officers of the following crime reporting requirements, importance, and responsibilities to: (i) record allegations of crime reported directly to them (ii) record counter allegations on separate crime reports. This follows an IOPC investigation following the death of a female who had previously been arrested by the MPS following a domestic...

Matched on terms: investigation, police

Inquiry recommendation

R88 - PSNI investigation file review processes

Muckamore Abbey Inquiry

PSNI needs to improve its processes for the review of live investigation files, and have an effective escalation process when progress is delayed. PSNI should consider how it assures the quality of the reviews of live investigation files. Senior officers should assess a significant sample of reviews to ensure all possible action has been taken to conclude the...

Matched on terms: investigation

May 2014 · London Inner (North)

The crisis team did not follow up with police after requesting a welfare check when police did not call back, and there was no clear protocol for such situations.

Matched on terms: police

Jun 2018 · Birmingham and Solihull

The coroner noted a lack of communication between police forces regarding primacy for a missing person report. There was also a significant delay in actioning an email transfer of the case due to it being sent to a generic address, highlighting a need for verbal confirmation.

Matched on terms: police

Feb 2019 · Southampton and New Forest

The coroner noted that Southampton Citywatch staff are not timely in relaying emergency situations to Hampshire Police, leading to delays in police attendance. There are also unclear protocols for licensed security staff seeking urgent police assistance.

Matched on terms: police

Apr 2024 · Gateshead and South Tyneside

The coroner identified issues with the grading of the police response, significant delays in attendance, and incident oversight due to resource limitations. The report also questioned the comprehensive demonstration of improvements in police response timeliness and incident management across the force area.

Matched on terms: police

Apr 2024 · Manchester North

UK Border Force lacks legal powers to seize certain consignments for ending life, with holding limited to 30 days. There is no national guidance or joint protocols for police and Border Force on managing these, or for alerting local police.

Matched on terms: police

Oct 2024 · Inner North London

The coroner noted the absence of Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) guidance for frontline officers regarding their powers under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act, particularly concerning individuals likely to be missing but not yet formally reported.

Matched on terms: police

Jul 2025 · East London

The coroner raises concerns about delays in a criminal investigation, which mean an identified suspect is not subject to conditional bail, driving disqualification, or remand. This absence of measures is identified as creating a risk of further fatal harm.

Matched on terms: investigation

Jul 2025 · Nottinghamshire

The coroner identified a lack of joint agency policy and cross-sector working on Acute Behavioural Disorder/Disturbance among front-line services. There was also an absence of a consistently agreed joint policy between EMAS and the police concerning s.136 Mental Health Act 1983 detentions.

Matched on terms: police

Oct 2025 · East London

Frontline police officers experience difficulty accessing the Police National Database to check for a history of domestic abuse in other force areas, which limits proactive responses to domestic violence.

Matched on terms: police

Sep 2025 · Swansea Neath & Port Talbot

The coroner expressed concern that crucial evidence for determining the cause of a domestic explosion was not preserved, due to a lack of understanding by police and the absence of a protocol between police and the HSE on evidence security during search and rescue operations.

Matched on terms: police

Yvonne Davies and Andrew Davies

Jul 2015 · Manchester (South)

The coroner identified concerns regarding an off-duty police officer contaminating a death scene and the subsequent failure of attending on-duty officers to secure the scene or remove their colleague.

Matched on terms: police

Jun 2016 · Cornwall

The coroner noted concerns regarding delays in Mr Nute's ambulance attendance and transfer, inappropriate 999 call triage, and insufficient communication to police about a road traffic accident, leading to poor scene management.

Matched on terms: police

Jul 2017 · Hampshire (Central)

Hospital staff delayed police notification of a potentially suspicious death due to confusion over procedures. Concerns were also raised about insufficient basic incident details, such as the address, in ambulance service handovers, particularly from private providers.

Matched on terms: police

Aug 2019 · Birmingham and Solihull

The coroner noted that a call was incorrectly graded, and even if correct, insufficient West Midlands Police resources meant it and most other lower priority calls would not have been answered due to the volume of higher priority calls that night.

Matched on terms: police

Angeline Phillips

Dec 2022 · Manchester West

The Greater Manchester Police Incident Response Policy lacks specific guidance preventing the referral of incidents to third parties without police attendance, potentially leading to police not responding within required timescales.

Matched on terms: police

Jul 2024 · South London

The coroner noted a delay in a welfare check due to confusion between Surrey Police and the Metropolitan Police, raising concerns that such communication failures could result in avoidable fatalities in future cases.

Matched on terms: police

Sebastian ‘Benji’ Oliver

Oct 2024 · Birmingham and Solihull

The coroner noted shortcomings in West Midlands Police training and communication protocols, specifically regarding reliance on outdated capacity assessments and not seeking clarification from paramedics when individuals with fluctuating capacity abscond.

Matched on terms: police

Oladeji Omishore

Mar 2025 · Inner West London

Concerns were raised about the inadequate recording and transmission of information regarding Mr Omishore's mental state from police call handlers to responding officers. This prevented officers from considering this critical information before arriving at the scene.

Matched on terms: police

Jul 2025 · Nottingham and Nottinghamshire

The coroner noted insufficient information sharing from Nottinghamshire Police to Adult Social Care, specifically that previous Public Protection Notices (PPNs) are not always shared when a current PPN is referred, potentially leading to incomplete information for decision-making.

Matched on terms: police

Khalif Mohammed

Sep 2025 · Birmingham and Solihull

West Midlands Police had insufficient resources to allocate officers to priority cases, resulting in significant delays. This raises a risk of future deaths if resource levels are not sufficient to manage daily case numbers.

Matched on terms: police

Sep 2025 · East London

The coroner noted a lack of communication from the Metropolitan Police to the psychiatric trust regarding Jake's release from custody. Furthermore, the police review did not identify any performance shortcomings or evidence of subsequent remediation.

Matched on terms: police

Jan 2026 · Northamptonshire

The coroner noted that Essex Police refused to investigate the supply of tablets to the deceased, despite a request from Northamptonshire Police regarding a suspect identified through the deceased's mobile phone.

Matched on terms: police

Handling Volume Crime and the Use of Police Bail: A Follow-up Review

Policing, Policing and the Community

Matched on terms: police

Answering the Call – An inspection of the Police Service of Northern Ireland Contact Management Arrangements

Policing, Policing and the Community, Police Internal Operations

Matched on terms: police

Inquiry recommendation

SP6 - Police use of unarmed officers in immediate threat

Southport Inquiry

All police forces should ensure that their policies, guidance and training address taking on a calculated degree of risk in recognition of the immediate need to protect the public from an obvious risk to life. This may involve the decision to deploy unarmed officers with caution.

Matched on terms: police

Committee recommendation

#22 - Require Government to ensure timely IOPC investigations and consider stronger guidance.

Home Affairs Committee

The progress the IOPC has made in clearing 91% of its core investigations within 12 months is welcome and must be maintained. While there are risks in setting time targets for investigations (not least the incentive for those under investigation to delay co-operation if the clock is ticking), the Government should ensure that the drive towards timely investigations...

Matched on terms: investigation

IOPC learning recommendation

Recommendations - Gloucestershire Constabulary, March 2025

The IOPC recommends that Gloucestershire Constabulary should ensure that opportunities to detect and disrupt crime should be taken without delay, and that where appropriate, substantive matters should be subject to charge at the earliest opportunity notwithstanding that other matters in development or under investigation, may also result in charges. Where necessary, further communication with the CPS to ensure...

Matched on terms: investigation

Inquiry recommendation

LAMI-92 - Ensure prompt, efficient investigation of child victim crimes to adult standards.

Chief constables must ensure that crimes involving a child victim are dealt with promptly and efficiently, and to the same standard as equivalent crimes against adults.

Matched on terms: investigation

Committee recommendation

#196 - Effective collaboration requires consistent intelligence sharing to disrupt OCG drone operations

Justice Committee

Collaboration between HMPPS and law enforcement agencies, such as the National Crime Agency and local police, is critical in identifying and disrupting the OCGs behind drone operations. We are pleased to hear that HMPPS have developed good working relationships with law enforcement which has led to more arrests. However, success hinges on the consistent, continuous and proactive sharing...

Matched on terms: police

Committee recommendation

#190 - Employ dedicated intelligence-sharing protocols and joint task forces against organised drone and phone gangs

Justice Committee

While current partnerships with police and the National Crime Agency aimed at tackling drone incursions are positive, they are not sufficient. The MoJ and HMPPS must employ dedicated intelligence-sharing protocols and joint task forces to specifically target the organised criminal gangs behind drone-related activity and the flow of illicit mobile phones. This includes tracking electronic financial transactions and...

Matched on terms: police

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