GMP Criticised After Murder

Sat, 13 March 2010 Courtesy of: IPCC

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has found individual and systemic failures in the way Greater Manchester Police dealt with Clare Wood prior to her murder.

Ms Wood was murdered by George Appleton in February 2009. Appleton was found hanged a few days later. In the months preceding her murder Ms Wood had contacted Greater Manchester Police alleging Appleton had caused criminal damage, harassed her, threatened to kill her and sexually assaulted her.

The IPCC independently investigated how GMP had dealt with these allegations.

“Women who are suffering domestic violence should not feel scared to approach the force for help”

IPCC Commissioner Naseem Malik said: Clare Wood was brutally murdered and her family have every justification in wanting to know whether more could have been done to help her. Our investigation has shown that more could and should have been done to provide Clare with the support and protection she needed. But it cannot be said the failures by Greater Manchester Police or individual officers led to her death.

It is clear to me during the period of time covering the deaths of Clare Wood and Katie Boardman that Greater Manchester Police's response to domestic violence related incidents was not as good as it could have been. There were flaws in their intelligence systems and individual failings by officers who demonstrated in some cases a shocking lack of understanding about the nature of domestic violence.

I believe the findings from these investigations have made a difference. Greater Manchester Police have acknowledged the failings and acted to correct them. Women who are suffering domestic violence should not feel scared to approach the force for help. Mistakes have been made in the past, but I am confident the appropriate changes have now been made.

The families and friends of Clare Wood and Katie Boardman have lost loved ones in horrific circumstances. I am sure it is a matter of deep and lasting regret to Greater Manchester Police that it has taken these tragedies to identify failures in systems. I hope Clare and Katie's families can take some comfort that our investigations have led to changes that should ensure women in similar situations in the future are given the help, support and protection they deserve.

A copy of Commissioner’s Report outlining the findings of the IPCC’s independent investigation is available at

http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/index/resources/evidence_reports/investigation_reports.htm