Apology after eight-minute police search for dying pensioner

● Body of man found day after making a 999 call for an ambulance

A watchdog has found police officers failed to make “diligent inquiries” to trace a man who made a 999 call for an ambulance before being found dead at his home.

The body of Albert Insch, 72, was discovered by his carer at supported accommodation in Inverness on the morning of 27 October, 2016 – the day after he made a call for help.

A report published by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) said the emergency call was answered by a BT operator who could not make out what was being said.

A recording of the call was passed to Police Scotland’s area control room (ACR) where staff also struggled to understand the message.

As part of their investigation into the handling of the incident, Pirc investigators listened to the call and believe Mr Insch said: “Hi, ambulance please, mate.”

Police managed to identify Mr Insch’s mobile number from previous 999 calls, but had wrongly recorded his flat number on one of those occasions. As a result, two officers went to the wrong flat, where they were told the occupant was a woman who was in hospital. An employee at the accommodation said he took the officers to the flat occupied by Mr Insch, but the officers dispute this.

The Pirc report said the officers were at the supported accommodation for eight minutes before leaving without tracing Mr Insch. ACR staff meanwhile continued to try to contact Mr Insch by telephone, without success.

The call was closed that evening after the officers confirmed to control room staff that the flat was occupied by a woman, who was in hospital at that time.

The Pirc, Kate Frame, said: “This is a tragic case, where an elderly man endeavoured to seek emergency assistance but due to a previous error by ACR staff inaccurately recording his address and a failure by the two officers who attended to establish whether Mr Insch was safe and well, he did not receive that assistance.

“I have recommended that Police Scotland reinforce to operational officers and ACR staff the need to diligently carry out inquiries when a 999 call ends unexpectedly.

“Furthermore, I have recommended that Police Scotland ensures that especially in cases involving elderly people, officers should not leave an incident before they have established whether the person is safe and well.”

The Pirc said it could not be determined whether if officers had made more diligent efforts to trace Mr Insch, they 0 Albert Insch’s body was discovered by his carer

could have prevented his death.

Chief Superintendent George Macdonald, divisional commander for Highland and Islands Division, said: “We fully accept the findings of the investigation. This type of call is one which we face on a regular basis and it is apparent that on this occasion we have not displayed the level of professionalcuriosityiwouldexpect.

“I have met personally with Mrinsch’sfamilytodiscussthe findings and I have apologised to them that our inquiries to trace their father’s address and adequately ascertain his wellbeing did not go far enough.

“During my time with the Insch family it was also apparent that the level of communication and engagement with Police Scotland during this enquiry and subsequent Pirc investigation had significant room for improvement.”