Force’s ‘systemic failures’ in murder of young mother

Nottinghamshire Police has unreservedly accepted recommendations made by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) after a 21-year-old woman was murdered following systemic force failures of handling domestic abuse cases.

The IPPC published its findings this week in relation to the murder of Casey Brittle who was found with fatal head injuries in Nottingham in 2010. Her estranged partner Sanchez Williams received a life sentence for the murder.

An internal review by the force identified that between September 2008 and August 2010 they had responded to 11 calls involving Ms Casey. The IPCC investigation found failures by officers in individual incidents, that included:

•A lack of understanding of the force’s domestic abuse policy and procedures;

•Not submitting risk assessment forms to the domestic abuse unit;

•A lack of positive action against Mr Williams or following lines of inquiry;

•Bail conditions preventing contact with Ms Casey not being imposed on Mr Williams; and

•Incidents were not given the appropriate coding or entered on the crime recording system that would have given colleagues a better chance of assessing the risk posed to Ms Casey.

Following the conclusion of the investigation, Assistant Chief Constable Paul Broadbent said he deeply regretted Ms Casey’s death and the circumstances surrounding it.

He said: “There had been a history of domestic violence and abuse in Ms Casey’s life involving Williams. In the 23 months leading up to her death, a total of 11 separate incidents had been reported to Nottinghamshire Police and for this reason the force asked that the circumstances leading up to her death be investigated by the IPCC.

“Whilst awaiting the IPCC’s report, we took steps to completely revise our approach towards responding to, and identifying, incidents of domestic violence and abuse. This involved an overhaul of working practices, specifically in relation to the identification and management of the risks faced by victims.”

The IPCC investigation led to six officers facing misconduct procedures for their roles in three incidents, while a further four officers have been dealt with through unsatisfactory performance procedures.

In addition to failures by individual officers, the investigation identified the lack of a thorough corporate approach to domestic abuse. This resulted in a lack of knowledge among officers and support for them in their attempts to help victims.

However, despite the measures that have now come into place, the force had already been made aware of similar issues in the past which the IPCC described as “horrifying”.

Amerdeep Somal, IPCC commissioner and lead for domestic abuse, said: “It is clear that beside the failings of individual officers Ms Casey was significantly let down by systemic failures within Nottinghamshire Police. These are all the more horrifying because the force had previously been warned about many of the same issues following the horrific attack on Gail Hdili.”

Forty-year-old Mrs Hdili was attacked by Adel Hdili in Nottingham in January 2009 and left blind in one eye. A subsequent IPCC investigation into the police handling of the incident said the force had failed to take “crucial steps”.

The force’s new strategic approach is being supported by a comprehensive training programme for all police officers, and for police staff who perform key roles. To support that programme, the force has produced a 20-minute film about Ms Casey’s death and the impact of domestic violence. It is currently being shown to every employee of the force in a structured, mandatory training programme.

“There is nothing we can now do for Ms Casey. But in her memory, and in order to provide the best possible protection for others who find themselves trapped in violent relationships, we can, and have, produced the most robust policy and approach in terms of positive policing” said Mr Broadbent. “We continue to provide Ms