Daughters still seeking 'closure' over mum's death

Chloe (left) and Kim Thompson say they want an apology from West Yorkshire Police for the delay in checking on their mum in her cell

The daughters of a woman who died after falling ill while being held at a police station say they have still have not had "closure" over her death seven years on.

Claire Harper, 41, was found unresponsive in her cell at Bradford's Trafalgar House police station in 2018 after being arrested on suspicion of assault while under the influence of alcohol.

An inquest heard a cell check due around the time she fell ill was delayed, though ultimately no wrongdoing was found and a jury ruled she died from natural causes.

Responding to calls from her daughters for an "apology" for the delay, West Yorkshire Police said the inquest's findings had been "noted" and "our thoughts remain with Claire's family".

At the inquest in December, the jury found Ms Harper, who was discovered to have been pregnant, had probably suffered a cardiac arrest at about 11:30 GMT on 7 January 2018.

Attempts to resuscitate her got under way about an hour later and she died later at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The inquest had heard that a cell check had been due to take place between 12:00 GMT and 12:30 GMT but had been delayed.

Daughter Chloe Thompson, 25, said she and her sister Kim Thompson, 28, believed there were still questions to be answered over the delay in checking on their mum in her cell on the night she died.

"She wouldn't have made it anyway, whether you gave her CPR or not," she said.

"That's fine, we understand that - she wouldn't have survived."

However, Chloe said that despite the inquest into Ms Harper's death not finding any wrongdoing on the part of West Yorkshire Police, she and Kim still wanted an "apology" from the force.

A report from West Yorkshire Police was received by the coroner's office, but assistant coroner Peter Merchant directed that no further recommendations were required.

The cause of Ms Harper's death was officially listed as cardiomyopathy

Chloe and Kim said they were also surprised by the inquest's finding that "alcohol did not play a part" in their mum's death.

The medical cause of Ms Harper's death was listed as cardiomyopathy - a general term for heart diseases.

The sisters said their mum had struggled with alcoholism for as long as they could remember.

Kim said: "It was quite a difficult childhood. I don't have many memories with my mum, I think I've just blanked them out. I just remember her always having a can in her hand."

Meanwhile, Chloe said: "We always thought alcohol would kill mum. We expected one day she'd be told she had liver failure.

"When we were told it wasn't alcohol and she had died in a police cell, we just thought, 'how has that happened?'"

'Extraordinary delay'

Chloe and Kim said the fact the inquest into their mum's death was not held until seven years after her death had also proved a major frustration.

Chloe said she believed that "if it had happened closer to the time", it would have been easier for witnesses to remember more details about the night in question, while Kim said she believed some stories had changed over time.

When asked by the BBC why the inquest took seven years to take place, the coroner's office said it would not be appropriate to comment further.

Kim said: "We haven't got the closure we were looking for. It was so frustrating and even now I get so frustrated at it."

Charlotte Halsted, civil liberties solicitor at Broudie Jackson Canter, who represented the family at the inquest, said: "To wait seven years for an inquest is an extraordinary delay, which only added to my clients' distress and upset."

Ms Harper had been held at Bradford's Trafalgar House police station before she fell ill

Ms Halstead said Ms Harper's family had still to be informed of the coroner's decision not to make any recommendations following the report from West Yorkshire Police.

"From the start, the family had one goal: to understand the circumstances around how their mother, and their unborn sibling, lost their lives while in police custody", she explained.

"Sadly, after working tirelessly to get to the point of inquest, the process made them feel like they were, at best, an afterthought for the court.

"It is extremely disappointing to see this lack of consideration has continued.

"Until the family have sight of the official decision and the details surrounding that decision, this process continues, and the family is unable to consider their next steps, including any potential legal action."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson told the BBC: "We note the conclusion of the inquest into the death of Claire Harper in police custody in 2018, which was sudden unexpected death from natural causes.

"Our thoughts remain with Claire's family and friends at this time."

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