Police misconduct proven in search for missing man

Matthew Caseby, 23, escaped from a mental health unit in 2020 and was fatally hit by a train

A West Midlands Police inspector has been found guilty of misconduct over his decision making during the search for a highly vulnerable psychiatric patient who was hit and killed by a train in 2020.

Matthew Caseby, 23, a mental health patient at Priory Hospital Woodbourne in Birmingham, died a day after he left the site by scaling a wall in its courtyard.

It was found the officer "may not have included relevant information within his decision making and/or dismissed information", the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

The officer has been given a written warning to last for 18 months.

The watchdog determined that the officer should face a misconduct hearing after a complaint was made by Mr Caseby's father almost three years ago, alleging a series of failings.

An inquest jury ruled in April 2022 that failures amounting to neglect contributed to the death of Matthew Caseby, who was hit by a train near Birmingham's University railway station after absconding from hospital.

'Utterly negligent'

The 23-year-old, who lived in London, had been detained under the Mental Health Act following reports of a man running onto railway tracks near Oxford five days before his death.

His father believes police were "utterly negligent" about Matthew's acute vulnerability and should have classed him as a high-risk missing person.

An IOPC spokesperson said its investigation "found that a police inspector may have breached the standards of professional behaviour regarding duties and responsibilities, authority, respect and courtesy and discreditable conduct in relation to their decision making and handling of information, after Matthew was reported missing".

The IOPC, which declined to name the officer involved, said it had also identified learning for the West Midlands force in respect of procedures for investigating missing persons deemed to be medium risk, particularly on overnight shifts, with less staff on duty.

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police, who also declined to name the officer involved, said: "Our thoughts remain with Matthew Caseby's family and friends.

"A misconduct meeting took place yesterday and the officer received a written warning to remain on his file for 18 months. We note the recommendations made by the IOPC and the outcome of their investigation."