IPCC To Investigate Force's 3rd Similar Incident

Fri, 12 March 2010 Courtesy of: IPCC

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is to investigate Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s response to a missing person who was subsequently found dead.

Staff at Summerlands Hospital in Yeovil contacted police at around 7pm on 25 February to report that a patient had not returned, having left earlier in the day. They also informed police that the Yeovil man, Stephen Dennis Hill, had previously expressed suicidal thoughts to his ex wife.

At 8.18pm a Police Community Support Officer attended 53-year-old Mr Hill's home address. A police officer obtained a key to the property and inside they found Mr Hill's body. Avon and Somerset are treating the death as non suspicious.

“this is the third incident involving Avon and Somerset where similar themes appear to exist”

Avon and Somerset referred this to the IPCC on Friday 5 March. An IPCC assessment then determined that it was appropriate for the matter to be subject to a managed investigation.

IPCC Commissioner Rebecca Marsh said "I would like to offer Mr Hill's family and friends my condolences for their loss.

"The investigation will focus on the initial response of police call handlers to reports that Mr Hill had not returned to hospital. This will include reviewing any risk assessment conducted, the grading of the call and identification of actions that may have assisted with finding Mr Hill.

While all the evidence available indicates that Mr Hill was dead before the police were called, the force was not aware of this at the time. In deciding to manage an investigation we have also taken into consideration that this is the third incident involving Avon and Somerset where similar themes appear to exist."