IOPC examines five years of police contact before Bristol explosion deaths
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into Avon and Somerset Police’s contact with two people who died in an explosion at a property in Bristol.
The inquiry will focus on the force’s dealings with Joanne Shaw and Ryan Kelly before their deaths, rather than the circumstances of the explosion itself.
Ms Shaw and Mr Kelly were killed following the blast in the Frenchay area of the city on 3 May.
The inquiry was prompted by a mandatory referral from the force whose officers last had contact with Ms Shaw four days before the explosion.
IOPC investigators will examine police dealings with Ms Shaw over a five-year period between May 2021 and May 2026 to determine whether appropriate safeguarding measures were taken. The inquiry will also assess whether incidents during that period were properly resourced, progressed and risk assessed.
The IOPC said it would consider whether there were any missed opportunities that may have contributed to the deaths of Ms Shaw and Mr Kelly, and whether officers and staff acted in line with local and national policies and procedures.
IOPC director Derrick Campbell said the investigation would seek to establish the circumstances leading up to the events of 3 May.
He said investigators would examine a “significant history” of police involvement relating to Mr Kelly’s behaviour, including allegations of stalking, harassment and assault.