Police contact with a man before his death - Staffordshire Police, June 2018

In June 2018 a man referred himself to Staffordshire Police in relation to alleged offences of child sexual exploitation. No offences were identified, and no victim was located. Officers were also unable to contact the man initially, either by phone, because his mobile was broken, or at his home as, despite numerous attempts to clarify the address, officers could not locate the address he had provided. The investigation was closed shortly afterwards. Six days after the investigation was closed, Staffordshire Police received reports of concerns for the welfare for the man. They were able to enter the man’s flat with assistance from his landlord. There, they found a suicide note, indicating a location where the man’s body was subsequently found.

Our investigators reviewed the level and nature of the contact between Staffordshire Police and the man. They recovered body-worn video footage of the scene. They obtained CCTV and witness statements from Staffordshire Police staff who had engaged with the man when he reported the matter to the police. They also reviewed a number of local and national policies.

The evidence indicated that, throughout the initial investigation, despite the alleged offence reported, there was no indication that the man was at risk. The force carried out extensive intelligence checks to assess the risk the man may have presented to himself or to another and found nothing that would confirm there was any.

There was no evidence to suggest that the man’s death could have been reasonably prevented nor that Staffordshire Police may have caused or contributed to his death. The force not only appear to have adhered to the local and national policies in their handling of the man, but could be said to have gone above and beyond the requirements set out within them during their interaction with him.

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. We concluded our investigation in September 2018.

After reviewing our report, Staffordshire Police agreed.