Watchdog slams police bungling
The family of a Hamilton man whose body was pulled from the Waikato River three days after he disappeared from a mental health facility say a ‘‘black comedy of errors’’ were made by police handling of his disappearance.
In a damning report released yesterday, the Independent Police Conduct Authority upheld complaints made by Nicky Stevens’ family over the failings of police to take any action in the 48 hours after he was reported missing.
Heads could yet roll over the bungle, with five police staff facing a conduct investigation.
Stevens, who was schizophrenic, was under a compulsory care order at the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre (HBC) in Hamilton when he failed to return from an unsupervised 15 minute smoke break on March 9 last year.
On March 12, the 21-year-old’s body was found in the Waikato River.
Staff at HBC informed police that Nicky was missing at 2.38pm on March 9 – two hours after he walked out.
Despite police knowing Stevens was a high suicide risk, a series of failings meant no officers were dispatched to search for him or gather further information in person from HBC, until March 11.
Stevens’ parents, Dave Macpherson, a Hamilton City Councillor, and Jane Stevens, complained to the Independent Police Conduct Authority about the lack of action by police.
After a review, the body found that for two days no one in police took responsibility to locate Stevens.
Five police staff – two from Waikato and three from the Northern Communications Centre – were now undergoing an employment process.
Police policy and good practice was not followed, Judge Sir David Carruthers said in the report. In particular, handling by the police’s northern communications centre, which received the missing person alert, was ‘‘inadequate’’ and did not comply with police’s standard operating procedures and good practice.
Superintendent Steve Kehoe, the national manager of Communications Centres, said comms staff did not pick up on the risks. ‘‘In spite of the time delay, there were opportunities missed to pick up on those red flags.’’
Staff incorrectly coded it a priority 2 instead of priority 1 job, which meant no police were sent immediately to the scene.
Waikato’s district command centre was informed but ‘‘did not provide effective oversight’’ in managing the missing person case, the report said. No police staff were sent to HBC to gather information and no search was launched for two days.
During this time, the report found police also failed to liaise with Stevens’ family.
Macpherson said family contacted police on numerous occasions over two days seeking progress on the search and were never told one had not begun.
It was not until March 11 that a senior officer picked up the report and ordered action.
The IPCA found police missed a number of opportunities to take further action during the two days Stevens was missing.
‘‘The lack of action and contact from police caused Nicholas Stevens’ family great distress at a very difficult time,’’ Carruthers said.
Jane Stevens said the family were shattered at the extent of the ‘‘bungling and poor systems’’.
‘‘The prime opportunity to find Nicky alive was lost because of this. It was a black comedy of errors from both the DHB and the police – one that we wouldn’t wish on any other family.’’
Waikato police district commander Superintendent Bruce Bird apologised to the family on Tuesday.
‘‘We thank Superintendent Bird for the police apology,’’ Macpherson said. ‘‘And accept that the police have taken steps to improve the way they handle cases like Nicky’s, and are willing to include us in some planning work that is being done around this.
‘‘We note that the way the IPCA and police have handled our complaints following Nicky’s death is streets ahead of the DHB and other health agencies, who have yet to start any reviews or investigations.’’
Bird said he was disappointed with how police responded, and fully accepted the IPCA findings.
‘‘Nicky Stevens was a son, a brother, he did a lot of work in this community and talking with the family, he was a good bloke, and for that we unreservedly apologise.’’
Several actions could have been taken once police were informed, he said.
The missing person alert should have been brought to the attention of supervisors; a car should have been sent to HBC; and officers should have informed the search and rescue centre.
Four investigations were launched following Stevens’ death – by the Waikato District Health Board, the Independent Police Conduct Authority, Hamilton Police, and the minister of health.
Bird said an investigation into the complaint laid against the DHB was in the hands of the Crown Prosecutor.