Independent investigation into West Yorkshire Police’s handling of Hamzah Khan concerns

20 Jan 2014 03:50 PM

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating West Yorkshire Police’s handling of concerns raised about the welfare of Hamzah Khan - a four-year-old boy who was found starved to death at his home in Bradford in 2011 almost two years after he died.

Allegations of neglect had been made to West Yorkshire Police and other agencies prior to the discovery of Hamzah’s body.

Following the sentencing of the boy’s mother Amanda Hutton, who was jailed for 15 years in October 2013 after being found guilty of manslaughter, the IPCC contacted the force to ask for details of complaints to police that had been reported in the media.

On 26 November West Yorkshire Police referred details of the complaints to the IPCC and, following an assessment, an independent investigation was launched.T

he IPCC investigation will examine what action West Yorkshire Police took after concerns about Hamza’s welfare were raised. It will also look at why the matter was not referred to the IPCC in 2011.

The investigation will be overseen by IPCC Commissioner Cindy Butts. She said: “The death of Hamzah Khan was a truly shocking example of the most cruel neglect imaginable and at the heart of it lies the loss of a young life. Our investigation will examine what action West Yorkshire Police took and also why the contact was not referred to us in 2011.”