Man reported as missing found dead - Thames Valley Police, July 2017

On 11 July 2017 Thames Valley Police (TVP) officers arrested a man following a disturbance at his mother’s home. The man appeared to be suffering from mental health issues, and the officers took him to a local mental health centre, where he was admitted on a voluntary basis. Two days later, the man left the centre, damaging property in the process. Staff at the centre reported the man missing to TVP, and a missing person investigation was initiated.

Approximately four hours after the man was reported missing, a person was fatally struck by a train in the local area. They were later identified as the missing man.

We examined the police response to the missing person’s report, including the risk assessment and actions taken to locate the man.

In the course of the investigation, our investigators obtained statements from police officers and members of the public involved in the incident, examined national and local police policies relating to missing persons, and reviewed police records and radio transmissions relating to the incident.

The investigation concluded that the risk assessment and actions carried out by the police were appropriate, and that there was no indication any police officer had behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings.