Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have been criticised for ‘eight hour’ waiting times after a woman from Walkden was found dead in 2021.
A report published this week into the death of Angeline Phillips by Professor Dr Alan Peter Walsh found concerns over GMP’s response to a report of a concern for welfare.
Ms Phillips was found dead at her home address in Walkden as a result of an overdose on January 30 2021.
More than eight hours prior to this, GMP received a phone call from a friend of Ms Phillips, showing concern in light of a lack of contact and explaining she was in and out of hospital after several suicide attempts.
The incident was listed as a grade two priority response, meaning it should be allocated in 20 minutes and investigated within the hour.
A police sergeant said the incident was a medical matter and reported it to North West Ambulance Service instead.
Paramedics attended the home address of Ms Phillips, but there was no answer and the crew left for another incident.
It took until the early hours for officers to force entry and find Ms Phillips.
In a prevention of future deaths report, Professor Dr Alan Peter Walsh stated: “I am concerned that unless the Greater Manchester Police Incident Response Policy is reviewed police officers will not attend Incidents within the timescales referred to in the Policy and there will be an opportunity to pass the responsibility to 3rd party agencies, which may lead to a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken.”
Professor Dr Walsh also requested a review into the Greater Manchester Police Incident Response Policy and training programmes “for all police officers and civilian staff involved in the operating procedures referred to in the Greater Manchester Police Incident Response Policy.”
GMP have until February 15 2023 to respond to the report.
GMP have been contacted for a statement.
Recent Comments