15 August 2008

IPCC to manage investigation into response to call to Cheshire Constabulary

The Independent Police Complaints Commission will manage an investigation into how Cheshire Constabulary responded to a call about a man who was later found dead.

At approximately 6am on 30 July 2008 a man’s body was found hanged from a tree in woods off Kingsway South in Warrington. The man has been identified as Duane Syers, 20, from Warrington.

Cheshire Constabulary had received a telephone call at approximately 12:30am that morning expressing concern about a man who it was claimed was about to hang himself.  Police officers responded to the call and searched the location they had been given but there was no sign of the man. The officers left the location a short time later to respond to a report of a prowler in a nearby street and the original incident was closed on the police systems at 1am.

The matter was referred to the IPCC and a decision has been taken to manage the force’s investigation into the handling of the call.

IPCC Commissioner Nicholas Long said: “The investigation will look primarily at how the call reporting concerns for a man’s welfare was dealt with and whether the relevant information was recorded and passed on to the officers conducting the search.  

“We will also want to examine whether Cheshire Constabulary's response was appropriate considering they had a report of an apparent impending suicide.  My sympathies go to Mr Syers family and friends.”

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Notes for editors:

The IPCC has overall responsibility for the police complaints system. Since April 2006 it has taken on responsibility for similar, serious complaints against HM Revenue and Customs and the Serious Organised Crime Agency in England and Wales. The IPCC’s jurisdiction was extended in 2008 to cover UK Border Agency staff exercising police-like powers.

The IPCC has the task of increasing public confidence in the complaint systems and aims to make investigations more open, timely, proportionate and fair.

The 15 Commissioners who run the IPCC guarantee its independence and by law can never have served as police officers. No Commissioner has worked for HM Revenue and Customs. They are supported by more than 100 independent IPCC investigators plus casework managers and other specialists.

Since April 1 2004 the IPCC has used its powers to begin 264 independent and 663 managed investigations into the most serious complaints against the police and other agencies. It has set new standards for police forces to improve the way the public's complaints are handled. The Commission also handles appeals by the public about the way their complaint was dealt with by the local force.

The IPCC is committed to getting closer to the communities it serves. Its Commissioners and staff are based in IPCC regional offices in Cardiff, Coalville, London and Sale plus a sub office in Wakefield.

The IPCC web site is constantly updated at www.ipcc.gov.uk or members of the public can contact the IPCC on 08453 002 002.

Media contact:

Ian Christon, IPCC Regional Communications Officer (North Region) Tel 0161 246 8582 Journalists with urgent enquiries outside normal office hours should contact the on-call press officer on 07717 851517