Stevyn Carr
15 Apr 2024 · Coroner James Thompson · Gateshead and South Tyneside
The coroner's concerns
1. inadequate police response to vulnerable person
“The evidence I heard at inquest indicated the level of police response should have been classed as a Grade 2 Vulnerable to ensure a more timely response”
2. lack of oversight of police incident handling
“No oversight of the incident took place for over 9 hours and at that a comment was made that there were no resources able to attend, but no other options/alternatives were pursued”
3. delayed police attendance after family report
“The family of [the deceased] contacted police some 15 hours after the first call to the police and after this a further 1 hour and 23 minutes elapsed before police went to his address and found him”
4. systemic police resource shortages causing delays
“I heard evidence at inquest that a number of incidents were 'delayed' for a significant period for lack of police resources and this position was common place at that time”
5. uncertain improvement in police incident grading and response
“I am concerned whether the changes to the management of incidents and/or training in relation to the grading of incidents by Northumbria Police has improved since [the deceased]'s death, to the extent that the timeliness of police response to requests from the public for assistance is improved and is improving”