Response to alleged threats to life - South Yorkshire Police, August 2016

In August 2016 a South Yorkshire Police (SYP) officer investigated an allegation of threats to kill reported by a man. During the course of the investigation, the man who had allegedly received the threats intimated to the officer on the phone that he would take matters into his own hands. SYP officers arrested the man who had allegedly made the threats to kill. The man said that he himself had been assaulted and threatened by the other man. Police were unable to find evidence of the alleged assault or injuries to the man. They bailed and released the man and took no further action regarding the alleged assault.

The man who first reported the alleged threats later murdered the other man.

During the investigation, our investigators obtained witness statements and reviewed a number of police documents, policies and procedures. They also interviewed the SYP officer in relation to their alleged breaches of the standards of professional behaviour in conducting the investigation.

The officer provided us with a written statement in which they explained that they did not perceive the comments of the man who had reported threats to kill as a threat for the other man. They believed that he was an upset victim of crime who was frustrated with police processes.

The evidence suggested that the man’s comments, although possibly implying some level of violent intent, did not explicitly state what action he intended to take, or when he intended to take it. In the Lead Investigator’s opinion, the SYP officer’s assessment that the comments were borne out of frustration was understandable in the circumstances.

As regards the other man’s claim that he had been assaulted, the officer explained in their written response that they were satisfied that their colleague had investigated the incident. They had no reason to doubt their assessment that the alleged assault had not taken place. In the Lead Investigator’s view, it was reasonable for the officer not to have followed this line of enquiry, as they had relied on the overall professional judgement of another officer regarding the validity of the allegation.

Based on the evidence available, the Lead Investigator concluded that there was insufficient evidence upon which a reasonable tribunal could conclude that the officer had a case to answer for misconduct.

After reviewing our report, the force agreed with our findings.