Response to report of concern for welfare - Northamptonshire Police, August 2017

On 2 August 2017 Northamptonshire Police received a phone call from a member of the public reporting a concern for welfare for their neighbour. The incident was initially graded as a “scheduled” incident, meaning it required police attendance, but not immediately. This grading was later reviewed and reassessed as being “prompt”: it was now considered as having a degree of importance/urgency, though not needing an emergency response. Officers were dispatched, and after gaining access to the man’s home found him dead. A post-mortem later concluded that the most likely cause of death was codeine toxicity.

Our investigators conducted a review of the documentary evidence relating to the incident, in addition to accounts provided by several control room staff.

The investigation found no indication anyone involved in the incident behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or committed a criminal offence. However, we were of the opinion that the performance of a member of police staff may be considered as unsatisfactory.

After reviewing our report, the force agreed with our findings and proposed to address this through an agreed improvement programme for the member of staff.

We agreed that their proposal was appropriate.