The Metropolitan Police and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) have announced a new approach into investigating ‘unexplained deaths’ following failures exposed during the inquests into the deaths of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor, who were all murdered by serial killer Stephen Port.
The changes are being introduced to provide ‘absolute clarity to officers responding to and investigating deaths’ over the expectations upon them and their colleagues.
Four new classifications of deaths have been introduced. They are;
- Expected death – where there is a medical diagnosis.
- Unexpected death investigated and not suspicious – where evidence shows “no third party involvement”.
- Unexpected death under investigation – where further investigation is required.
- Homicide – where it is likely there was third party involvement.
Solicitor, Neil Hudgell, of Hudgell Solicitors, represents the families of Port’s victims and said:
For the families of Anthony, Gabriel, Daniel and Jack, reforms to policing policies with regards to how unexplained deaths are investigated of course come far too late.
This change in policy approach has only come about due to the families’ collective determination to fight for seven years to expose what was an appalling catalogue of police failings.
However, only time will tell if it makes a positive impact on the standard of policing, the dedication of officers to do a full and proper job, and result in the change in mindsets required, especially when investigating deaths related to young gay men.
It seems almost unimaginable to the ordinary member of the public for any unexplained death to be anything but fully and properly investigated by our police forces.
However, in this case, deaths were classed as unexplained but not suspicious on the very same day that the bodies were found. This approach contributed to officers overlooking glaring pieces of evidence which pointed towards murder, and meant key background checks on Port himself were not carried out.
Whether introducing new classifications of unexplained deaths will make a difference is something we, and the families of Anthony, Gabriel, Daniel and Jack, view with a degree of scepticism. It still appears to leave the door open to interpretation, in which the wrong mindset could still result in a death being wrongly classed, and therefore inappropriately investigated.
We note the Metropolitan Police says it has agreed and set out clear guidelines detailing the responsibilities that officers of different ranks have in death investigations which will provide ‘absolute clarity’, and leave them in no doubt as to their responsibilities and those of their colleagues.
This is something to be welcomed. A ‘no excuse’ culture will certainly be a huge step forward given the reluctance shown by officers at all levels to take any accountability for the deaths of these four young men, in what was one of the most widespread institutional failures in modern history.
We hope these changes lead to significant improvements in police investigations into unexplained deaths, and prevent more precious lives being needlessly lost.
Read more: The extensive catalogue of police failings which led to the BBC drama ‘Four Lives’