Recommendation - Essex Police, June 2026
We identified organisational learning following a Death or Serious Injury investigation which involved a cross-border missing person investigation in relation to a man who sadly died by taking his own life.
IOPC reference
Recommendations
The IOPC recommends that Essex Police take steps to assure itself that staff involved in the handling of cross-border missing person incidents are fully aware of, and consistently apply, relevant policy and guidance.
This recommendation follows a Death or Serious Injury investigation which involved a cross-border missing person investigation in relation to a man who sadly died by taking his own life. The original investigation found that a response delay resulted partly from staff not fully adhering to the relevant policies and procedures in place. This includes assessments and rationale not always being documented when incident grading were changed or units deallocated; delays in responding to update requests by another force; and lack of escalation to supervisors where response times were not met.
This recommendation will help ensure that all officers and staff have an improved awareness of relevant policy, effective coordination, timely escalation and clear ownership in cross-border missing person investigations.
Accepted
The IOPC engaged with Essex Police regarding this recommendation, and we are content to accept the recommendation. Following consultation with key stakeholders, it was determined that existing policies are APP complaint and did not require amendment, but issues were identified with adherence to said policies in this case. Individual feedback has already been delivered.
Since we were consulted on this recommendation, the following action has been taken.
A re-THRIVE input has been delivered to Contact Management staff on CPD days.
The command has a ‘lesson of the week process’ which has since included a lesson on recontacting victims/informants when downgrading response gradings.
All control Inspectors have been given a SMART PDR objective as follows:
SMART objective - THRIVE and Downgrading Standards -
Specific
Improve quality and consistency of incident downgrades through THRIVE application and informant engagement.
Measurable
- 100% compliance: recorded THRIVE rationale and informant contact for all downgrades
- Weekly supervisory dip-sample (minimum 10 incidents)
Achievable
Delivered through supervisor oversight, dip-sampling and targeted feedback
Relevant
Supports risk management, audit compliance and public confidence.
Time bound
To be achieved within 3 months, with ongoing monthly review.
In addition, the Victim’s Journey product goes live 06/07/26 which will automate some of the communication requirements.
Beyond the summer peak period, Contact Management Command proposes to learn the lessons from the College of Policing ‘What Works’ Centre for S.A.R as a presentation method of THRIVE.
The Command is also developing further performance reporting and accountability on downgrades, re-THRIVEs and incident escalations.