24/02/2006
For Immediate Release

IPCC Concludes Investigation into Death of Paula Tomlinson

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has found insufficient evidence to support any misconduct hearings in relation to allegations of bullying and intimidation within Merseyside Police’s firearms unit.

An independent investigation was launched in August 2004 after the allegations surfaced following an internal Merseyside Police investigation into the death of PC Paula Tomlinson.

PC Tomlinson, 35, was found hanged at her home in Birkdale, near Southport, on 20 January 2004. It was alleged that PC Tomlinson had been the victim of bullying and intimidation during her three years with the firearms unit. She left the unit in September 2003 after accruing three failures in her firearms re-qualification test.

The matter was referred to the IPCC by Merseyside Police in July 2004. The subsequent investigation uncovered no evidence of any criminal conduct by any officer. The investigation did find some evidence of inequitable treatment, a failure by managers to address PC Tomlinson’s situation, an in crowd” culture within the firearms department and agreed that the actions of one officer could be perceived as bullying. However the report was sent to counsel for advice and there was deemed to be insufficient evidence to support any misconduct hearings in relation to the allegations of bullying and intimidation.

The investigation did uncover that a police constable within the firearms unit had authored two cartoons of a pornographic and homophobic nature and as a result that officer has received a formal written warning from Merseyside Police.

In addition due to other issues uncovered during the investigation, including the failure by managers to address PC Tomlinson’s situation, three officers – an inspector, sergeant and constable – have received strong written managerial advice about their responsibilities as supervisors.

The investigation was led by IPCC Senior Investigator Paul Davies and overseen by Mike Franklin, IPCC Commissioner for the North West.

Mr Franklin said: Paula Tomlinson’s death was a tragedy and I would like to extend my condolences again to her husband and family. She was a fine police officer who had earned the right to work in the high-pressure environment of the firearms unit.

Once these extremely serious allegations came to light we owed it to PC Tomlinson and her family, and to the police force and the people of Merseyside, to undertake a rigorous investigation. The IPCC did that and we determined that there was no evidence of any criminal behaviour by officers. There was also insufficient evidence to support any misconduct hearings being held in relation to the main accusations.

It is unlikely we will ever know for sure why PC Tomlinson chose to take her life. It was a conclusion of our investigation that PC Tomlinson did have concerns about her work – a perception of bullying, a loss of status following her removal from the firearms unit and an unwillingness to accept a transfer within Merseyside Police. However it is difficult to establish a direct link between any activities by fellow officers and PC Tomlinson’s death.”

He added: The investigation did uncover certain issues such as an 'in crowd, out crowd' culture and the production of two offensive cartoons. These matters have been addressed by Merseyside Police following our recommendations.

I hope our thorough investigation can in some way help bring a sense of closure to this tragic event.”

ends

Media contact:

Ian Christon, IPCC Regional Communications Officer (North Region): Tel 0161 246 8582. For media queries outside of office hours please contact our on-call duty press officer on 07717 851 157.