Actions following reports of threats to kill - Dorset Police, May 2015

In May 2015 a vulnerable man was murdered by his former girlfriend and her partner. In the weeks leading up to his death, his ex-girlfriend and her partner sent him text messages, threatening to kill him. He had reported these messages to Dorset Police.

The police went to the man’s home and spoke to him about the threats he had received. The police did not have any contact with his ex-girlfriend or her partner before the murder was committed.

Our investigators interviewed a police sergeant and two police constables under notice that their conduct was under investigation. We looked into allegations that all three officers failed to conduct an adequate investigation into the threats made against the man, and failed to adequately safeguard him given his vulnerability, needs and capabilities.

At the end of the investigation, based on the evidence available, the Lead Investigator’s view was that the officers had a case to answer for misconduct, as, in his opinion, there was sufficient evidence upon which a reasonable tribunal could find that all three police officers had failed to sufficiently investigate the threatening text messages sent to the man.

The Lead Investigator was also of the opinion that there was insufficient evidence upon which a reasonable tribunal could find that the three officers failed to give sufficient consideration to the fact that the man was vulnerable. Evidence indicated that officers conducted a risk assessment of the incident and that each was able to provide a rationale for their decisions.

After reviewing our report, Dorset Police agreed that the three police officers had a case to answer for misconduct. All three attended misconduct meetings, at which misconduct was found not proven.

We concluded our investigation in December 2017, but waited until the inquest into the man’s death had concluded before publishing our findings.