The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Police chief asked to give reassurances after gran’s murder
st andrews: Councillors want to talk to officer after force is criticised
A top police officer has been invited to give reassurances in the wake of a grandmother’s murder in St Andrews.
Elizabeth Bowe had dialled 999 an hour-and-a-half before she was found strangled by her brother in September last year, but no officer was sent to her home.
Police were criticised for their response to the call of a known vulnerable person, who reported her brother had stolen her mobile phone and that she was in a domestic violence situation.
An emergency response was initially promised but then called off as it was decided no crime had been committed.
Now, Fife Council’s north-east Fife area committee has invited divisional commander Chief Superintendent Colin Gall to attend its next meeting in January to outline events before Ms Bowe’s death and how it will prevent a similar tragedy.
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) concluded Ms Bowe could have been saved had police attended promptly following her call for help.
Police Scotland said that since her murder by Charles Gordon in her Bobby Jones Place flat, it had put in place recommendations made by Pirc.
It had also given risk and vulnerability training to more than 800 staff.
However, Liberal Democrat councillor Tim Brett said questions needed to be asked about how vulnerable people like Ms Bowe are identified and recorded.
He said: “We need to understand the procedures the police have in place, particularly in relation to vulnerable people and have reassurance these are reviewed regularly.”
His Liberal Democrat colleague, St Andrews councillor Dominic Nolan added: “It shakes a community when something so tragic happens.
“I don’t want this to be seen as an opportunity to bring the police in and give them a dressing down.
“We want to see how we can improve the systems in place so that when the public does call, it is reassured and confident it will be properly responded to.
“Most importantly, that it is safe and there is someone on the end of the phone who will take its concerns and well-being seriously.
“By bringing a senior officer in it can be seen that we are concerned and not willing to let such a tragic event go by and not seek appropriate action to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
A request for the case to be discussed at the council’s environment, protective services and community safety committee was refused by convener Councillor Ross Vettraino, who said there was nothing senior officers could tell them that was not already known.