Two police officers face misconduct case over Nicholas Churton murder contacts

Two police officers will face a misconduct case, and North Wales Police are being urged to review procedures in recognising vulnerability, after an investigation into contact with a man murdered in Wrexham.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) today published a lengthy statement on their investigation on North Wales Police contact with murder victim Nicholas Churton. Mr Churton was found dead in his home in Caia in March 2017.  Jordan Davidson admitted his murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Local MP Ian Lucas has also today reiterated his calls for an ‘over-arching independent investigation into Mr Churton’s death looking at the roles of the police, the probation service and the Community Rehabilitation Company’.

In today’s statement the IOPC say: “We have completed our investigation into NWP contact with Mr Churton in the 11 days prior to his death including their response to his call that a man called Jordan had been in his home. We are continuing a second investigation into NWP’s contact with Davidson following his release from prison on licence in December 2016 in the period leading up to the murder of Mr Churton.

“Our first investigation has found that Mr Churton called NWP on 14 March 2017 to report that two days earlier he had been threatened with a hammer in his home by a man called Jordan who tried to steal his television and stole his house keys. Later that day, a police officer called Mr Churton back to take further details about Jordan.

“The officer recorded the incident as theft rather than as a robbery which may have influenced the level of threat and the risk assessment made in respect of Mr Churton. Details of a neighbour identified by Mr Churton who may have had more information about Davidson were not recorded and vulnerability factors were not correctly identified despite there being a number of issues to indicate Mr Churton was vulnerable.

“The occurrence on the incident log was viewed by three further supervisors who also failed to identify that the circumstances amounted to a robbery and not a theft.

“On 21 March, 2017, the same police officer called Mr Churton again to obtain further details about ‘Jordan’ and advised him that he should speak to his friends to try to find out the suspect’s details himself.

“Mr Churton called NWP on 23 March 2017 to tell them the full name was Jordan Davidson. Four days later, he was found dead at his home and Davidson was arrested for murder.”

IOPC Director for Wales Catrin Evans said: “This was a horrific murder and the responsibility for Mr Churton’s death lies squarely with Jordan Davidson. My thoughts remain with Mr Churton’s family and friends.

“Our first investigation found there were areas for improvement in police recognising Mr Churton’s vulnerability and ensuring all available information was recorded accurately. Police requesting a vulnerable victim of crime carry out a line of enquiry themselves to find out who the offender was, has, in my view, the potential to increase the risk to the victim.

“I am discussing the learning identified during the course of this investigation with North Wales Police. We are progressing our further enquiries into how the force handled Davidson after his release from prison and their liaison with other agencies.”

Following the investigation, the IOPC say North Wales Police have agreed that a police officer has a case to answer for misconduct over allegations that the log in relation to the incident on 12 March was inaccurate, key information was omitted and that the officer’s risk assessment did not adequately take into account Mr Churton’s vulnerability.

They add that the force also agreed a police sergeant has a case to answer for misconduct for allegedly failing to identify the urgency of the response needed in the circumstances in reviewing the officer’s actions.

North Wales Police have also agreed to review their policies and procedures in recognising vulnerability, grading and resourcing and making use of intelligence with the IOPC adding North Wales Police have already undertaken work in some of these areas since referring Mr Churton’s death in March 2017.

“While not amounting to misconduct, performance issues were identified for another police sergeant and an acting inspector for their supervision and they are being dealt with by the force by way of management action.”

“A call handler who took the initial call on 14 March 2017 left their role in August 2018. We are unable to make case to answer determinations in relation to their involvement with Mr Churton as a member of Police Staff.”

“We will consider publishing our investigation reports at the end of the second investigation and after any potential misconduct proceedings.”

Ian Lucas MP told us today: “It is important to remember that responsibility for Nicholas Churton’s death lies with Jordan Davidson. However, there have been systemic failings in relation to this case and that is why I have been pressing for answers on behalf of Mr Churton’s family and my constituents for so long.

“I believe that we have a broken criminal justice system and that this system failed Mr Churton.

“The IOPC investigation into North Wales Police’s contact with Mr Churton is one of three separate inquiries into the way the case was handled, two from the IOPC and one by the probation service.

“While these individual aspects do need to be looked at, it would be more helpful to have an over-arching independent investigation into Mr Churton’s death looking at the roles of the police, the probation service and the Community Rehabilitation Company. This is something I have called for in the Commons.

“Only then might we get the full picture and answers to the questions I have been asking for 18 months.”