Police contact with a woman before she self-harms - Lancashire Constabulary, March 2018

On 13 March 2018, a woman made a report to Lancashire Constabulary that she had been assaulted by her husband. When officers arrived, the woman was at her neighbour’s and her husband was in their home. After discussions with all parties and consultation with supervisors, officers decided to arrest the woman. She was taken to her home to get changed. Afterwards, the woman walked towards the kitchen, saying she was going to get her medication, and got hold of a knife. Officers saw the woman making stabbing motions and an officer deployed incapacitant spray. The woman moved backwards through a door. Officers forced open the door and one of the officers struck the woman several times with their baton, until she dropped the knife. Officers called an ambulance, as the woman had stabbed herself in the leg.

Our investigators reviewed the statements of the three officers who attended, along with the body-worn video footage available. They also took a statement from the neighbour.

It is not clear whether and how much officers supervised the woman while she was in the kitchen, and how long she was in there before getting the knife, although it is thought this was a short period of time. There was no indication officers did not react appropriately in order to protect the woman as soon as they realised she had a knife.

The officer who used the incapacitant spray and baton on the woman said they believed the woman would harm herself with the knife. Officers had a duty to act to protect the woman and themselves and were allowed to use reasonable force to do so. There is no indication that the woman sustained any injuries from the use of force.

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.