Figures show more people are dying after contact with GMP
MORE people are dying following contact with Greater Manchester Police, new figures reveal.
The police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said there were 20 deaths “during or following” contact with GMP in the year 2017-18, an increase on 14 during 2016-17.
However, GMP pointed to the fact that although some IOPC investigations remain ongoing - those finalised in the report have not identified any “serious failings.”
Only one of those deaths involved an arrest. David Molloy, 49, was detained following a fight at an address in Halliwell, Bolton, in September last year.
GMP said he became unwell in the back of a police van and Mr Molloy later died despite efforts to revive him. Police launched a murder probe and arrested a 34-year-old man. He was later released and inquiries continue.
There were no deaths as a result of road traffic accidents, shootings or suicides following custody relating to GMP. The 19 other cases sit in the ‘Other’ category of deaths following police contact.
Examples include when the force has been called about a concern for welfare and the person is later found dead. Others relate to people reported missing.
Earlier this year, the IOPC highlighted the case of 18-year-old Ellen Higginbottom who was found dead in Orrell Water Park, Wigan.
Mark Buckley, 51, was jailed for life for her murder in September last year. An IOPC investigation found that a lack of resources at Greater Manchester Police contributed to a four hour delay in the search.
Although her disappearance was graded as a ‘priority response’ - and therefore officers should have been dispatched straight away they were delayed 13 times due to a lack of available patrols.
The watchdog said there was insufficient evidence to charge anyone at GMP with misconduct but said three radio operators failed to follow ‘Escalation Policy’ procedures for missing persons.
Det Chf Supt John Egerton, Head of GMP’s Professional Standards Branch said: “We acknowledge the findings of the IOPC’s annual deaths statistics report for 2017/18 and would like to reiterate the comments from the IOPC Director General Michael Lockwood, that each of these cases represent a tragic loss of life. Our thoughts will always remain with those lives lost. Everyday officers deal with complex cases, vulnerable people and those with mental health issues and everyday those officers do their best to offer support and help them. Sadly, some cases end in tragedy and there is nothing that anyone could have done differently to change that.
“The IOPC’s figures for GMP reflect our mandatory requirement to refer all deaths during or following police contact to the IOPC, to ensure independent scrutiny, and if necessary an independent investigation. Whilst a number of these tragic cases still remain subject to live independent investigations, the finalised investigations contained within the report have not identified any serious failings by GMP.”