Officers missed killer's helpline threats

Barbara Taylor called West Yorkshire police's Vulnerable Victims Unit, an answerphone service that was supposed to be checked twice a day, and warned "something drastic" would happen to her elderly parents Harry and Bessie.

However the messages were not picked up until the following morning, by which time 82-year-old Mr Taylor, from Sowerby, near Halifax, had suffered injuries from which he eventually died 10 days later.

Taylor, who was 44 at the time of the attack in July last year, was later jailed for 18-months for manslaughter. She also admitted causing actual bodily harm to her mother.

A serious case review into the incident found that even if best practice had been followed by all agencies involved with the family, the death may not have been prevented.

West Yorkshire Police stated they had contact with the family after the messages were left but before the attack happened, with officers speaking to both Barbara Taylor and her father.

Chief Superintendent Alan Ford said the senior divisional officer had a calm conversation with Mr Taylor that evening, who said that his daughter was in the house and asleep and the family were fine.

Chief Supt Ford said: "Had we picked up those messages it is clear that they would have been actioned – but we were in contact with the parties later that day.

"Would it have changed the outcome – based around what we know about the dynamic of the house, no raised voices no signs of violence, the reassuring phone conversations – I have to say I just don't know. Obviously we cannot say 100 per cent that things would not have been different.

"This was a family tragedy, they do not hold any of the agencies to blame for what happened."

Chief Supt Ford said that it was "highly unfortunate" that Taylor contacted the Vulnerable Victims Unit line, which he described as a "slow response, non-urgent voicemail facility".

The line is now checked twice daily, in the morning and at the end of the day.

Officers received a further six calls after the messages were left, and there at least two conversations between Taylor and the senior divisional officer, and one between Mr Taylor and the officer.

Chief Supt Ford said there were no threats made during any of these calls.

The review revealed a long history of problems within the family who avoided contact with support agencies.

It outlines a series of specific recommendations for Calderdale Safeguarding Adults Board, the council, NHS Calderdale and the Hospital Trust to improve the way in which they work together.

The report identifies the need to revise guidance, provide more training for staff and improve communications.

In light of the findings, Calderdale councillors are to discuss ways in which older people can be protected from domestic violence.

Members of the authority's Adults Health and Social Care Scrutiny Panel, will meet next Wednesday to consider an action plan to improve the way older people are safeguarded.

Calderdale Council's cabinet member for health and social care, Coun Bob Metcalfe, said: "All agencies concerned must learn from what happened in this tragic case.

"Abuse can happen anywhere, in healthcare settings or, as in this particular case, in someone's home."

MAIN POINTS

Two messages from Barbara Taylor, threatening her parents, not picked up from the police helpline.

Later that day she attacked both parents, Harry and Bessie. Harry died ten days later.

Six further calls to other police numbers are made, resulting in officers having conversations with both Barbara Taylor and her father.

Serious Case Review found that even if all agencies involved with the family had followed best practice, the death may not have been prevented.