Man found dead after safeguarding issues raised - Greater Manchester Police, June 2018

On 23 June 2018 Greater Manchester Police (GMP) received intelligence via Crimestoppers that raised concerns for the welfare of a vulnerable, unnamed man, living in the suburbs of Manchester. The intelligence was that five people had recently moved into the man’s property and it was believed that they were growing cannabis there. As a result, an incident log was created and graded as level 2. This requires a response within an hour. Initial checks were completed and the names of two men were included on the incident log. One of these men was the occupant at the address. It is not clear who the second man was, but it is thought he was a previous occupant at the same address.

At 12.13pm on 24 June 2018 an officer went to the man’s home and received no response. The officer recorded on the incident log that the level of concern was relatively low but it may be beneficial to attend during the hours of darkness to see whether any lights were on at the property. There was no evidence that an officer revisited the address that evening.

At 10.26am on 25 June 2018, a police sergeant reviewed the incident and asked that enquiries were made with the housing provider to establish who the occupant was.

At 4.04pm on 25 June 2018 and at 8.42am on 26 June 2018, a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) went to the man’s home and reported there had been no answer and they would try again. The PCSO went back to the man’s home that afternoon, but did not inform the force control room that he had completed this visit. The PCSO knew the man, but did not pass on this information.

At 8.38pm on 27 June 2018, GMP received a report of concern for the welfare of a man. An officer attended the man’s house at 11.01pm and received no response. The officer completed other enquiries into the occupant, but believed they were looking for the other man mentioned on the incident log (believed to be the previous occupant), and so enquiries completed related to him. The officer requested that someone attend during the day and for checks to be made with the housing provider.

At 9.15am on 28 June 2018 after several unsuccessful attempts to speak to the man and after it was identified his mobile phone was in the property (prior to this, there was evidence from neighbours that he may be visiting family) the decision was made to force entry into the man’s home. At 9.52am he was found dead in his home.

Our investigators took statements from the PCSO and the officer who attended following the second concern for welfare report. We reviewed audits conducted by the force to see who accessed information in relation to the address, and the two men on the incident log.

We considered the actions of the officers involved in the response to the calls about the man before he was found dead. The PCSO appeared to have been in possession of information which they did not share with the control room, namely, the man’s identity and the fact they made a third visit on 26 June 2018. This information may have factored into the risk assessments, but there was no evidence to indicate it could have prevented the man’s death. We were of the view that this should be dealt with as a point of minor learning for the PCSO.

Based on the evidence available we found no indication that any person serving with the police may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings, or had committed a criminal offence.

After reviewing our report, GMP agreed, and advised that the PCSO would be given the opportunity to reflect upon and learn from this incident.

We completed our investigation in November 2018, but waited until the inquest into the man’s death had completed, in summer 2019, before publishing its outcome. The inquest concluded the man had died of natural causes.