Investigation into a woman’s contact with police before her death - Metropolitan Police Service, July 2013

In July 2013, during the course of a week, a woman and some of her friends made a number of phone calls to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) expressing concerns for her safety and the safety of others. The woman alleged that her ex-partner had made threats to kill any man she associated with, had tampered with the tyres of her male friend’s car, parked outside her house, and continued to visit the area despite her telling him their relationship was over

At the end of July she was murdered by her ex-partner. Following her death, the MPS referred the matter to us and we launched an investigation.

We examined a number of incidents in which the woman had made contact with police, as well as when her ex-partner had also made contact with police.

Our investigators interviewed members of the public, collected statements from officers, transcripts of phone conversations and training records for officers. They also examined local and national policies surrounding domestic violence allegations.

Based on the evidence available, we were of the opinion that a tribunal, properly directed, could find that:

• two officers had committed gross misconduct in the manner in which they conducted themselves during a visit to the woman’s home and their follow up actions to the information provided to them
• a third officer had been dishonest about guidance he provided to the woman’s ex-partner about visiting her home, and had also committed gross misconduct
• two more officers had committed misconduct in the way they handled interactions with the woman

We completed our investigation in September 2016.

After reviewing our report, the MPS disagreed with our views regarding gross misconduct for the two officers. We directed them to hold a gross misconduct hearing.

At a gross misconduct meeting, which was held in spring 2019, the panel found the two officers had breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to how they conducted themselves during the visit, and also for failing to take steps to arrest the woman’s ex-partner. The panel ruled the officers did not lie about the advice they received after their visit, and their follow up actions. Both officers were given a final written warning.

The panel also ruled that the third officer had lied during our investigation. He received a final written warning.

Out of the two officers who were considered to have committed misconduct, one had already left the force, which meant that no further action could be taken. The other officer received management action.