Force criticised over canal death

A police phone operator is appearing before a disciplinary panel following the death of a 37-year-old man.

Wayne Hassall was reported missing by his family on 10 May but they were told to call back the next day. His body was found in a canal on 13 May.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said Warwickshire Police's initial response "fell far short" of what could have been expected.

The force has apologised and said it accepted a mistake was made.

The IPCC said "even if a proper course of action had been triggered" following the initial call from Mr Hassall's family, his death would not have been prevented.

The unnamed call operator was facing a Warwickshire Police disciplinary panel on Friday.

We apologise to Mr Hassall's family for not providing the normal high standards expected of Warwickshire Police and we are very sorry for any additional distress this has caused to Mr Hassall's family Warwickshire Police

His cause of death is yet to be determined by a coroner, a police spokesman confirmed.

The incident was referred to the IPCC by Warwickshire Police.

In a statement, the watchdog said it had found that whilst there was some evidence that the call centre was exceptionally busy at the time his family rang, the police operator failed in his basic duty of care to Mr Hassall.

He also provided a "poor service" in response to the initial missing person report.

The operator failed to complete an incident log, made assumptions about the call resulting in an incorrect risk assessment and was keen to close the call to meet 999 response targets.

A spokesman from Warwickshire Police said: "We accept that force procedure was not initially followed when Mr Hassall was reported missing and that a mistake was made.

"We apologise to Mr Hassall's family for not providing the normal high standards expected of Warwickshire Police and we are very sorry for any additional distress this has caused to Mr Hassall's family."