Probe raps cops over hunt for missing Janet
Crime Reporter A POLICE watchdog has found cops failed in how they investigated the disappearance of Knightswood pensioner Janet McKay who suffered from dementia.
Janet, 88, had been missing for eight days when her body was found on September 24, 2015 in the area of Rothesay Docks, Clydebank.
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) revealed yesterday that Police Scotland failed in how they handled the investigation and made recommendations.
Among the failings identified, the Commissioner Kate Frame found that officers failed to take a statement from a carer, who was known to have visited Janet’s home on the day she went missing and who would have been able to describe what she had been wearing.
It was also found that on the following day, police supervisors failed to act promptly, in response to a reported sighting of Janet on the day she had gone missing.
The PIRC investigation also revealed that two days after Janet went missing, police officers failed to pass on significant information about her being seen on the day she went missing. When this failure was recognised four days later, there was a further delay when an officer failed to pass on the address of the person who had seen Janet to other officers, causing further delay in progressing this information.
In a statement, Janet’s family said: “We hope that going forward Police Scotland will look carefully at these recommendations and that valuable lessons have been learned.
“This has been a difficult time for our family. Janet was a loving mother and grandmother and we are thankful for the support we have received.”
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams said: “I apologise on behalf of Police Scotland and once again offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mrs Janet McKay.”