An investigation has found that 35-year-old Kelly Hartigan-Burns died after being held in a police cell at Blackburn Greenbank Police Station in December 2016. Kelly, who grew up in Bolton and attended Canon Slade School, had been found earlier in a Darwen. in the churchyard after suffering a mental health episode, and was later arrested on suspicion of assaulting her partner. The jury spent two days discussing before reaching an open conclusion, believing that “significant and serious” police failures had contributed to Kelly’s death. The jury found issues with lack of education, lack of national police computer indicators, lack of communication between a senior officer and the transfer team, and management in the detention suite all contributed to Kelly’s death. The jury concluded: “If the Lancashire Police Officers involved in this incident had shown more compassion, acted diligently, practiced common sense, followed guidance and procedure from the moment they found Kelly in her yard church and throughout its detention, there may have been a different result “. Deputy Lt. Gen. Sasha Hatchett later said: “The Lancashire Police have a duty of care to all those in our custody and should be able to rely on us to keep them safe. “We failed to do that with Kelly and we’re really sorry about that. “Since that night we have taken a number of steps to minimize the risk of such a tragedy happening again. “This includes a series of system changes to strengthen our detention procedures and increase staff training on how to recognize when individuals are vulnerable and how to care for them when they are in custody.” The behavior of five officers and two detention officers was examined by the Independent Police Conduct Office, he confirmed. An officer was taken to a hearing for a serious misconduct, but withdrew in advance. He would have been fired if he had not retired. the panel was found. Another officer underwent administrative action. Ms Hachett said the jury’s findings would be scrutinized to see if further lessons could be learned. Kelly’s mother, June Hartigan, later said: “It’s a matter of public record – and perpetual shame – of how Lancashire police treated Kelly that night. “For the last five years we have been tormented by what we knew must have happened, by all the things the police did wrong and by all the ways in which Kelly could have been saved. “Kelly was beautiful, smart and funny and she should still be here with us today.”
