Watchdog criticises actions of call handlers Police slammed for delay after missing man is found dead

Two emergency call handlers have been criticised by a police watchdog for “unsatisfactory performance” after a man found dead in a garage was not classed as missing for almost six hours after he disappeared.

Kent Police was called at just after midnight on March 15 by a woman concerned about the welfare of the ex-partner she was living with, a report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct said.

She told the call handler the man had mental health issues and had tried to harm himself in the past.

She added he was due to be interviewed by police at 11am that day over allegations he had abused her, and she could hear him being sick.

The report was graded as ‘high’ and classified as a ‘concern other’ call type, but while the duty inspector was made aware of the incident, no patrols were sent to the address in Dunkirk, near Canterbury.

At 7.12am, the woman phoned police again to tell a different call handler her ex-partner was no longer at their home.

The interviewing officer tried to contact the man by phone, but could not get through and the incident remained classified as a ‘high’ grade ‘concern other’ call type.

A dispatcher made the duty sergeant aware of the incident at 11.42am after the man did not arrive for his police interview.

At 12.43pm a patrol arrived at the man’s home and confirmed he was not inside. Thirteen minutes later, the man was deemed to be a missing person, and at 1.12pm, he was found dead at garages to the back of his home.

An inquest into the man’s death later concluded he had taken his own life.

A probe was then launched by the IOPC, and three members of staff were subsequently served with misconduct notices.

It was alleged all three failed in their duties and responsibilities to categorise or amend the incident from a ‘concern other’ calltype to a ‘missing person’ calltype after the 7.12am call.

It was also alleged one call handler failed to inform a team leader or sergeant when she became concerned the woman’s call was still outstanding.

The IOPC said: “We were of the opinion that two staff members had displayed unsatisfactory performance. After reviewing our report, Kent Police agreed that they would address these issues with the two members of staff.

“We also recommended that Kent Police should review their policies and provide clarity on when Force Control Room staff should escalate missing person incidents and to whom.”

A force spokesman said: “Both members of staff have been referred to the human resources department and will attend a capability meeting to discuss any training requirements.”

The force also said it had reviewed and made improvements to its policies relating to missing people.

‘Two staff members had displayed unsatisfactory performance’