Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2016

James Barrett

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2016-0052, written 15 Feb 2016. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report15 Feb 2016
Reference2016-0052
DeceasedJames Barrett
CoronerDavid Horsley
Coroner areaPortsmouth and South East Hampshire
CategoryOther related deaths
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published1

The report

Text recovered by OCR from a scanned PDF. OCR is imperfect: check anything you rely on against the source PDF. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

1. Police Crime Commissioner for Hampshire
St George's Chambers
St George's Street
Winchester $023 8AJ

2. The Chief Constable
Hampshire Constabulary Police Headquarters
West Hill
Romsey Road
Winchester SO22 5DB

1 | CORONER

| am David Clark Horsley, senior Coroner, for the Coroner area of Portsmouth and South
East Hampshire.

2 | CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS

| make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009
and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.

3 | INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On 18" August 2015 | commenced an investigation into the death of James David
Barrett, age 66. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 5h February
2016. The conclusion of the inquest was:
- Medical cause of death:
1a) Severe Ketoacidosis and Hypothermia
2) Alzheimer's Dementia and Diabetes Mellitus
- Coroner's conclusion as to the death:
Death due to an Accident.

4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

On7" August 2015 James David Barrett, who suffered from Alzheimer's Dementia, went
missing from his home. Despite a missing person search having been instituted by the
emergency services on gh August 2015, he was not found until 13" August 2015. He
was pronounced deceased at the scene of his discovery by an attending police officer at
15.10 hours that day.

5 | CORONER’S CONCERNS

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In
my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the
circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you.

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. —

The matters that concern me relate to issues raised in a report given to me at the
Inquest by Sergeant 2637 Turner of Hampshire Constabulary. | attach a copy of his
report upon which | have highlighted these issues.

If the mapping of the search for Mr Barrett had been completed on one mapping system,
| believe the search for him could have been conducted more quickly and effectively.

This could be done in future if the police search advisers had available to them a stand-
alone mapping system rather than relying on a volunteer organisation to map out
searches. | was told that a bid for such a mapping system by the police search team has
been turned down by Hampshire Constabulary and | would ask that this decision be
reviewed in the light of the circumstances of Mr Barrett's death.

| was also told that the search for Mr Barrett could have been more effective if searchers
had been equipped with tracking devices which would allow search organisers to see
precisely where searchers had looked for him. | should be grateful if Hampshire Police
could consider obtaining there devices for use in missing persons searches.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and | believe your
organisation have the power to take such action.

YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report,
namely by 11 *" April 2016. I, the Coroner, may extend the period.

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out
the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed.

COPIES and PUBLICATION

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to Mr Barrett's family.

lam also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your response.

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary
form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful

or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your
response, about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner.

Monday, 15" February 2016 SIGNED BY CORONER

ce vid Clark Horsley

Responses

1 response published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.

Response from Respondent Not Named (PDF)
RECEIVED

08 APR 2016 |
THAMES VALLEY Andy Houghton .
POLICE Superintendent Operations BY H.M CORONER}
Joint Operations Unit
Hampshire Constabulary & Thames Valley Police
Southern Support Headquarters
Hamble Lane
Hamble
Hants
$02314TS

David C Horsley LLB, Solicitor Tel: 02380 47870 Mob: 07766 441367

HM Coroner
The Coroners Court
1 Guildhall Square

www.hampshire. police.uk
www.thamesvalley.police.uk

PORTSMOUTH
Hants Our Ref: AH016/2016
PO1 2GJ
6" April 2016
Dear Sir,

Many thanks for your letter dated the15th February but not received by Police Headquarters
until the 20th March, 2016.

You have stated a duty to respond by the 11th April, 2016. | can confirm that a business case
has been submitted by Sergeant Turner proposing the purchase of a MAPYEX system at
£51,000 along with detail of how the system will be used to reach maximum benefits. On the
22nd March, 2016 | recommended the purchase for ratification to Assistant Chief Constable
Scott Chilton.

He requested information from Procurement Services in order to identify a timeline for
purchase, training requirements and subsequent go-live. Due to Easter leave the information
is still awaited.

With your authority may | request an extension to the 25th April, 2016 when | am confident
full details will be provided.

Yours faithfully

|

Andy Houghton

SY O9A - Joint Ops Unit Letterhead (02/2012)

Ny at Winchester, Hampshire SO23 8AJ

: vING | Telephone 01962 871595
SERVING HAMPSHIRE & ISLE OF WIGHT E-mail: opcc@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
www. hampshire-pcc.gov.uk

|| 276) LI C E & C R | M E St George's Chambers, St George’s Street,

David C. Horsley LLB Solicitor Date: 8 April 2016

Her Majesty’s Coroner for Portsmouth

and South East Hampshire Enquiries to: RECEIVED
The Coroner's Court Direct line: 11 APR 2016

1 Guildhall Square

Portsmouth q Our reference: BY H.M CORONER}
PO1 2G6J Your reference:

Dear Mr Horsley

Thank you for sending a copy of the report dated 15 February 2016 regarding

the death of Mr James Barrett. 1! welcome your consideration of the
circumstances surrounding Mr Barrett's death and your subsequent
recommendations.

| am able to report that Hampshire Constabulary is currently considering a bid to
purchase the software recommended, or an equivalent, and would like to offer
my assurance that | will revisit this matter to ensure that this does occur.

Yours sincerely

Simon Hayes
Police and Crime Commissioner

Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner tor Hampshire
St George's Chambers, St George's Street, Winchester, Hampshire, S023 8AJ
01962 871 595 / opcc@hampshire.pnn.police.uk / www.hampshire-pcc.gov.uk

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