Independent Police Complaints Commission
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IPPC investigation concludes police response to Wolverhampton stabbing incident was appropriate
An IPCC investigation concluded that police who responded to a stabbing in Wolverhampton in which two people died acted appropriately in difficult circumstances.
The IPCC began its investigation following a referral from West Midlands Police after Melvin James stabbed his sister to death before turning the knife on himself at a flat in Leasowes Drive, Merry Hill, on 8 March (2017). He also stabbed and seriously injured his mother.
An inquest concluded in Wolverhapton on 24 August when the jury returned a narrative verdict which found that Mr James had died from multiple stab wounds and that his sister Ann-Marie had died from a stab wound to the chest. The jury also concluded that police had used an appropriate level of force on Mr James.
Police initially responded to the incident after a neighbour at the flats reported a disturbance but as officers were arriving Mr James’ mother made a 999 call to say her son had stabbed her and his sister, and that she had locked herself in the bathroom.
Two officers made a tactical withdrawal after being confronted by Mr James with a knife in a hallway outside the flat and deploying a Taser which was not fully effective.
When further officers arrived Mr James had gone back into the flat. They forced entry and restrained him after six further Taser deployments and the use of three stun grenades.
The IPCC’s investigator considered the use of force and did not identify potential misconduct on the part of any of the officers involved. It was noted that there was a “significant threat to officers” during what was a fast moving incident and that there was a need to allow safe access to medical professionals at the earliest opportunity.
IPCC Commissioner for the West Midlands, Derrick Campbell, said: “This was a tragic incident and I would like to extend my condolences to the family. It has been a terrible ordeal for them.
“This has also had a big impact on the community and my sympathies are also with neighbours, friends and anyone else affected.
“We had a duty to investigate the police response that day and it is clear officers acted professionally and to the best of their ability in the face of extremely difficult and distressing circumstances.”
Part of the investigation focused on the management of the scene by one officer and in particular the establishment of a cordon outside the flats when there were still members of the public potentially at risk inside. In the investigator’s opinion there was no case to answer for misconduct.
The IPCC investigation included obtaining accounts from 17 officers, reviewing witness statements from members of the public and also reviewing airwave radio transmissions and body worn video footage.
