Individual and systemic failings in GMP handling of domestic violence murder victim

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has found individual and systemic failures in the way Greater Manchester Police (GMP) 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 GMP alleging Appleton had caused criminal damage, harassed her, threatened to kill her and sexually assaulted her.

The IPCC concluded that the response by communications staff to Ms Wood’s call on an occasion that Appleton was harassing her was unsatisfactory. There was no attempt to contact Ms Wood to advise her of a delay.

Concerns were also raised because communications staff provided her husband and murderer, Appleton, with information about Ms Wood’s complaint about him.

“Given the nature of Ms Wood’s complaints it was very naïve to supply Appleton with such information as it gave him the opportunity to either evade arrest or contact Clare,” IPCC Commissioner Naseem Malik said.

Ms Malik concluded: “Although failures have been found in how GMP and individual officers dealt with Clare Wood, there is no failure that can be said to have been a missed opportunity to prevent the murder. Clare was not given the support she should have been – but that in itself cannot be taken as a reason to blame the police for the tragic outcome.

The IPCC chose to treat the delay in responding to the call on October 8 as a matter from which lessons could be learnt. The investigation identified 24 members of staff who were involved in the delays and they were asked to provide their views on the delay, but only two responded, which was, Ms Malik said, unsatisfactory.

The risk Ms Wood faced was not recognised for three months prior to her death, despite Appleton’s clear threats against her. Officer A’s perception of these threats as throwaway comments is “very concerning” Ms Malik said.

“It shows a clear lack of understanding of the situation and a failure to recognise a repeat pattern of behaviour. Appleton had previous convictions for harassment and assault against women, so threats made by such a person should never be regarded as ‘throwaway comments’,” she added.

Officer A was also criticised for failing to submit a file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on Appleton’s threats for four months after the complaints were made. The file also failed to mention an allegation of sexual assault and Appleton’s breach of bail.

The four month delay was attributed in part to time taken off by officer A. But the serious nature of the case should have meant alternative arrangements were put in place to ensure the matter was progressed quickly. The IPCC concluded that it was officer A’s obligation to ensure this happened.

The death of Ms Wood happened within months of the murder of Katie Boardman, another victim of domestic violence who had contact with GMP prior to her death and was also investigated by the IPCC.

Similar failings identified in the case of Ms Boardman were also noted in the case of Ms Wood, which Ms Malik said she found “disappointing but unsurprising”.

IPCC recommendations include:

• All police officers within Greater Manchester Police be reminded of the requirement to complete the 1-12 criteria following a response to a domestic abuse-related incident.
• Communications staff be reminded of the need to detail the rationale for the delay in the police response to an incident. This enables other staff and supervisers viewing the record to accurately assess the progress of the incident and allocate resources effectively.
• Persons reporting incidents be contacted once it is evident the police response is going to be delayed.
• When the police response is likely to be delayed on several occasions, the incident should be reviewed and, where appropriate, re-graded.
• Call operators be reminded it is not appropriate for those who are sub