Police performance in the spotlight

The case of David Penman is the latest of a string of incidents in the Stirling area in which the response of police has come under scrutiny.

Two years ago, 25-year-old Lamara Bell and her partner John Yuill (28) were found in their crashed car, next to the M9 at Bannockburn, three days after officers were first alerted to the accident.

It was later revealed that she lay undiscovered, but seriously injured, next to her partner John Yuill (28) who was already dead.

She died a week later in hospital.

In the wake of the tragedy, a review of call handling was undertaken by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary Scotland.

The police watchdog also announced in February that they would be probing the way officers dealt with an incident in which 42-year-old Peter Ritchie’s body was in woodland near Kippen.

He was discovered around 100 metres from his abandoned car – just 24-hours after officers had tried in vain to find the vehicle after telephone calls made by his family and members of the public.

And the Observer reported last week that PIRC had concluded their investigation into the actions of officers in the days leading up to the discovery of the body of 51-year-old Barry Croal at a house in Fallin.

Their probe focused on the response of police to a telephone call made by the family two days before he was found.

A report has been submitted to the Crown Office.