Police response to a woman’s emergency call before her death - Merseyside Police, November 2018

On 24 November 2018, Merseyside Police received an emergency call from a woman saying she had been attacked by her partner, who was refusing to leave her home. Police officers arrived and found the woman unconscious with multiple stab wounds. Her partner had left. Police officers and paramedics made lifesaving efforts, but the woman was pronounced dead a short time later.

The woman’s partner was later charged with her murder and sentenced to serve life with a minimum of 19 years.

Our investigators obtained a number of materials from Merseyside Police, including police logs, policies and procedures, radio transmissions, the emergency call recording and body-worn video footage from officers who attended the scene. We reviewed and analysed these to assist the investigation.

Our investigation found that, in the months leading up to her death, Merseyside Police had direct contact with the woman on three occasions regarding incidents involving her partner. She engaged with police officers on all three of these occasions, but either did not disclose any offences or did not wish to make any complaint against him. On all three occasions, she was given advice by police officers and signposted to sources of further information or assistance regarding domestic violence.

There was no evidence to suggest that the police may have caused or contributed to the woman’s death in any way.

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 completed our investigation in February 2019.

After reviewing our report Merseyside Police agreed.