Response to concerns for welfare - Merseyside Police, June 2017

On 14 June 2017, a woman called Merseyside Police saying she was concerned for her son’s welfare and safety, as he had been having suicidal thoughts in recent weeks following the breakdown of his relationship. The man was located safe and well later that evening at his former partner’s home, where officers spoke to him.

On 17 June 2017, the man’s mother contacted Merseyside Police again, as her son had told her he wanted to kill himself. Initially, an ambulance was dispatched to her home, but the mother called again as the man had left the house and was going to kill himself. Officers were sent to locate the man and he was found a short time later. A mental health nurse assessed him later that day at his sister’s home and considered him to be safe and well enough to remain in the community.

Family members called the police again when he left his sister’s home. Police found the man and spoke with him and the mental-health team. They then dropped him off near a local train station as he had told officers that he just wanted to get away to clear his head. That evening, the man contacted his father and returned home with him.

On 19 June 2017, the man’s mother called Merseyside Police at 5.36pm, reporting him missing. No-one had seen him since lunchtime that day or spoken to him for several hours. He had texted his former partner telling her he was going to end his life and had sent her a picture of tablets and alcohol. Following police enquiries, the man was believed to have checked into a hotel in Liverpool. At 8.53pm, the man was found dead in one of the rooms at the hotel. An inquest later found that the man had committed suicide.

During the investigation, investigators obtained statements from family members and all officers who had been involved in the search for, and who had found, the man. The investigation also reviewed the policies and legislation relevant with dealing with persons suffering with mental health, missing persons, and call handling.

The evidence obtained by the investigation indicated that Merseyside police acted promptly and appropriately when responding to concerns for welfare for a man who was suffering with depression and had made threats to his family that he was going to end his life.