The family of a lady who died in a cemetery after PCSOs called off a search after less than 10 minutes has received compensation from a police force.
As Jacqueline Parsons, 56, lay dying in Western Cemetery in Hull, East Yorkshire, officers from Humberside Police didn’t even get out of their car to hunt for her.
Miss Parsons had been hurt after falling off her bike, causing a passer-by to call 911 from his home since he didn’t have a phone and was afraid she’d be trapped in overnight.
On the morning of Sunday, October 28, 2018, a dog walker discovered her body.
Humberside Police has now agreed a settlement with her loved ones who took legal action alleging its failures were a breach of its duty of care to protect the right to life.
Miss Parson’s brother Stephen, 64, said he’d been left angry at the ‘basic failings’ and had taken legal action to ensure lessons were learned.
He said: ‘Still to this day I can’t come to terms with the fact that Jacqueline would still be here if the police had just done their jobs and done a proper search of the area.
‘To think of her left there alone is heartbreaking.’
Following the initial call at around 4.45pm on Saturday, October 27, 2018, the incident had been logged as urgent.
But it took until 6.20pm for two PCSOs to be dispatched to assist a woman described as being ‘under the influence’.
The dispatcher said that only a ‘quick area search’ was required given the time which had passed since the initial call without any further reports, Hudgell Solicitors said.
An inquest into Miss Parsons’ death was held in October 2020.
Miss Parson’s fiancé, Malcolm Cuthbert, told the coroner that she had gone cycling on her bike on at around 9am on Saturday and he became concerned when she had not returned home later in the afternoon.
He said: ‘It was raining heavily and I was worried. I expected her to return the next day and left the door open [as she had no key] and slept on the sofa.
‘On Sunday morning I expected her to return and was tired of waiting, but then saw on Hull Live that a female in her 50s had been found in the cemetery and had a gut feeling it was her.
‘I phoned the police and they arrived later to tell me she was dead and I just broke down.’
The hearing was told that at no point did the PCSOs leave their vehicle and the search was called off after about nine minutes as she hadn’t been found.
It heard their search consisted of them driving slowly with their car windows down to scan the land adjacent to the main cemetery road which looped around the cemetery.
Neither were trained in search techniques and their torches were not as powerful as dedicated lighting systems that marked police vehicles are equipped with.
It ruled that freezing overnight temperatures, the alcohol in her system and the injury to her ankle from falling off her bike had all contributed to her death.
Her body was discovered the next day – almost 17 hours after the first call was made to police.
Miss Parsons’ brother added: ‘I think from the moment the call was logged, and she was described as being intoxicated, there was a dismissive approach from all involved.
‘To not get out of the car and to leave after around ten minutes, having simply driven round and shone a couple of torches, was appalling.’
Adam Biglin, from Hudgell Solicitors, described the search as ‘wholly inadequate in terms of both approach and attitude’.
On behalf of Humberside Police, Deputy Chief Constable Paul Anderson said: ‘Jacqueline Parsons’ death was a terribly tragic incident and our thoughts and condolences remain with her family and loved ones.
‘We have agreed a settlement with the family following a claim that was received on conclusion of the inquest in 2020, as we fully acknowledged the decision reached by the Coroner.
‘Following Jacqueline’s death in October 2018 we immediately and voluntarily referred the incident to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) due to our involvement.
‘They asked us to carry out a full and thorough review and identify any learning, which was completed and guidance provided to those involved at the time.
‘On conclusion of the inquest we further looked at lessons to be learned and have already implemented additional training for officers and staff to prevent any unnecessary distress or worry and to assist should there ever be this type of incident across our force area again.’