Police left man alone before death, inquest told

Two police officers made an "inappropriate decision" to leave a suicidal man alone shortly before he took his own life, a jury inquest concluded.

Jack Booth, 23, died at Hoborne Cotswold Holiday Park, in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, shortly after midnight on 5 November 2021.

Area coroner Roland Wooderson recorded that Mr Booth's death was suicide but that it was "possible" the actions of the Gloucestershire Police officers - PC Oliver Clark and then PC Natalie Atkinson - had "made a material contribution to his death".

"The police officers' risk assessment determined that Jack was at high risk", the inquest conclusion stated. "Other measures could have been explored."

Following the inquest, which concluded on Thursday, Mr Booth's mother, Donna Allwood, said via her legal team that her son had been "crying out for help and the risk should have been obvious, especially to police officers".

Gloucestershire Police has been approached for comment.

The inquest was told a member of the public had called police shortly before 23:00 GMT on 4 November 2021, due to concerns over Mr Booth's welfare.

PCs Clark and Atkinson went to the holiday park where they saw Mr Booth.

He disclosed a history of self-harm, depression and anxiety, and said that he would probably self-harm later that evening, the inquest was told.

The officers then went to collect a police van, leaving Mr Booth alone.

When the officers found him again around 20 minutes later, he had taken steps to end his own life, the inquest heard.

The jury concluded: "The police officers' took an inappropriate decision to leave Jack alone on the night in question.

"It is possible that this made a material contribution to his death. The police officers' risk assessment determined that Jack was at high risk of committing suicide. Other measures could have been explored."

Mr Booth's mother added that "despite all the warning signs", the police officers had given her son "only minutes of their time".

"Jack was a beautiful person. He was kind and caring, though really it is impossible to put him into words.

"Losing him has been unbearable. I miss him every day."

Ruth Mellor, the family's solicitor, said: "Jack's family have had to endure a long wait since his death to have clear public acknowledgement of what has always been obvious to them: Jack should not have been left alone that night."

Following Mr Booth's death, the two officers faced a misconduct meeting last year.

PC Clark received a final written warning and PC Atkinson, who has since left the force, received a written warning.

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