Police contact with a woman’s family before her death - Kent Police, July 2017

On 21 July 2017, a woman went to a police station in Kent to report that her ex-partner had attempted to strangle her. Shortly after, her ex-partner also went to the same police station and told police officers he had murdered his daughter. Police officers went to his home address and found the body of a woman, later identified as his daughter.

This case was referred to us as a death or serious injury referral. We investigated the contact the family members had had with Kent Police prior to the woman’s death. Our investigators reviewed all calls made to Kent Police by the family, as well as radio transmissions, and spoke to the man’s ex-partner.

We found no evidence to suggest that Kent Police caused or contributed to the death of the man’s daughter or the attempted murder of his ex-partner. The force had no previous records indicating the man was a risk to either his daughter or ex-partner, and there was no history of domestic abuse between the parties.

The investigation concluded there was no indication any police officer had behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or had committed a criminal offence.

After reviewing our report, Kent Police agreed with our findings.