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High-level recommendations have been made following the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation into Devon & Cornwall Police contact with Kerry Power, who was murdered by her ex-partner in Plymouth.

Miss Power, 36, first called police on 28 November 2013 with concerns about damage to her car. Eight days later she complained that her ex-partner David Wilder was stalking her, and she was visited by police the following day. One week later, on 14 December 2013, she was murdered by Wilder after he broke into her home.

Our investigation carefully examined the interactions between Miss Power and Devon & Cornwall Police, from her initial contact with them in November. We identified occasions where information was not recorded properly and police records were not robustly checked, which may have contributed to a ‘standard’ risk grading being applied to Miss Power’s complaint, rather than a higher risk grading which better reflected her situation.

We also concluded that at the time of Miss Power’s murder, Devon and Cornwall Police had not fully implemented ACPO guidance on dealing with allegations of stalking.

In the Lead Investigator’s opinion, a PCSO and two police officers had a case to answer for misconduct. Devon and Cornwall Police disagreed that the PCSO and one of the police officers had case to answer and proposed that their actions be dealt with by way of performance procedures, which the IPCC accepted. The other police officer has since retired from the force and will face no further action.

The IPCC Commissioner also considered that the performance of two call handlers, a sergeant, an inspector and a Detective Superintendent may have fallen short of the standard expected. Devon and Cornwall Police have agreed that they should be dealt with by way of performance procedures.

The investigation also identified concerns with the ‘Silent Solution’ system, which is used by police forces across England and Wales and helps handle the large amount of hoax 999 calls the system receives. It is also intended to help people who are in danger or need assistance, but cannot speak to an operator.

The evidence gathered indicated that Miss Power may have been advised by a Devon & Cornwall police officer that if she were to make an emergency call from her mobile phone, but did not speak, emergency assistance could still be despatched. Miss Power made a 999 call when her ex-partner broke into her house, but she did not respond to the operator’s instructions and was transferred to the ‘Silent Solution’ system. Because there was no response to commands from the automated voice system, the call was not transferred to Devon & Cornwall Police.

In 2014, local learning was issued to Devon and Cornwall Police urging them to ensure it is made clear in their interactions that police do not necessarily respond to all silent emergency calls.

We have now made national recommendations to ensure there is better accountability for the system, and that its effectiveness is reviewed. We have also recommended that the issues identified in this investigation are formally considered by the 999/112 Liaison Committee, which is the body that coordinates and oversees the emergency call system.

IPCC Associate Commissioner Tom Milsom said:

“My heartfelt thoughts remain with Miss Power’s family, who lost a much loved mother, sister and daughter in tragic circumstances.” 
 
“The person responsible for her murder is David Wilder, who is currently serving a life term in prison. However, our investigation found that opportunities to identify the risk that David Wilder posed to her were not fully recognised by Devon & Cornwall Police, for reasons including the poor use of police systems for recording and research, gaps in training, and delays in the force implementing the ACPO Stalking Screening Tool.

“Following the IPCC investigation, the Assistant Coroner for Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon also adopted several of our recommendations and took those concerns directly to the Chief Constable of Devon & Cornwall Police, the Home Office, and the Metropolitan Police Service, which is responsible for hosting and monitoring the ‘Silent Solution’ system.

“The responses the Assistant Coroner received include a commitment to increased domestic abuse training by Devon & Cornwall Police alongside proactive improvements already made, and improved accountability, monitoring, and training in the emergency call system.”

The investigation report is available here:

www.ipcc.gov.uk/investigations/kerry-power-devon-and-cornwall-police