A police force has been criticised for an “unstructured and disorganised” investigation into the violent death of 13-month old Poppi Worthington in a damning and long-awaited report.
The IPCC concluded there was enough evidence for Cumbria police to have justified an arrest either on the day of Poppi’s death in 2012 or shortly after the postmortem.
The 92-page document was written two years ago but could not be published until now. The IPCC has previously said that the delay was necessary to avoid any prejudice to ongoing disciplinary and/or potential criminal proceedings.
The watchdog complained that detectives initially focused on investigating a natural cause of death and did not conclude there was a crime for more than eight months after the infant’s death. Due to the delay crucial evidence was lost.
Poppi died aged 13 months in December 2012. The cause of her death has never been ascertained, but in 2014 family court judge, Justice Peter Jackson, concluded that she had been sexually assaulted by her father Paul Worthington. The father has never been charged over her death. He denies wrongdoing.
The IPCC report said: “Overall there is substantial evidence available to support the contention that the reason this case has still not reached a resolution more than two years on from the death of Poppi is because of the unstructured and disorganised approach taken.”
The IPCC said there were concerns that Poppi’s father was the last person responsible for her care before her death and he was not arrested despite a decision to obtain a penile swab from him. Lead investigator Tim Kimber stated: “Not only were there suspicious circumstances, there was also a suspect on day one. Despite the level of suspicion, and there being a suspect, a crime was not recorded until 28 August 2013, which is the day the parents were arrested.”
Fiona McGhie, an expert civil liberties lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, speaking on behalf of Poppi’s mother – who cannot be named for legal reasons – said: “Poppi’s mother is understandably deeply concerned by the findings of the IPCC. She has anxiously awaited answers as to what happened to Poppi on that fateful day. To learn that the actions of senior investigators within Cumbria Constabulary may have contributed to the agonising delays she has endured has left her deeply and profoundly disappointed and distressed.”
Two lead detectives on the inquiry had cases to answer for gross misconduct, the IPCC also concluded, and neither attended the scene on the day of Poppi’s death.
Also criticised was the force’s acting chief constable Michelle Skeer, who took more than a month to call a meeting to discuss criticisms into the investigation made by Judge Jackson. The meeting only lasted 30 minutes, which “would not have been time to go through all the points raised in the judgment”.
Other failings identified in the 92-page IPPC report included:
- Senior officers dismissed warnings from a home office pathologist that Poppi’s death in Barrow-in-Furness was a case of child abuse, accusing her of jumping to conclusions.
- Poppi’s home was not adequately preserved and searched, resulting in a nappy she had been wearing being lost as potential evidence.
- Junior officers questioned why the investigation was not being treated as suspicious and were not allowed to attend meetings.
- Witness accounts were not taken until after Poppi’s parents were arrested more than eight months after her death and the incident was not recorded as a crime until this point. Due to this delay crucial evidence was lost or not gathered.
- No statements were taken during a five-day period between Poppi’s death and her postmortem because it was the weekend and the officers “were off”.
Chief Constable of Cumbria constabulary, Jerry Graham, said the report made “uncomfortable reading” and apologised on behalf of the force.
Kimber said the postmortem – which concluded the cause of death as “unascertained” – was the pivotal point of the failed inquiry.
The IPCC report outlined that the lead officer in the case, Detective Inspector Amanda Sadler, had a conversation with Home Office pathologist Alison Armour about potential abuse. But a second doctor who also examined Poppi suggested her injuries may be consistent with constipation.
Kimber said it was arguable that the fact that Sadler did not seek clarification on this point from the two pathologists while she was in the room led to “unclear lines of inquiry from that point”.
In her interview with the IPCC, Sadler admitted that in “hindsight” the death was suspicious but she did not feel she had enough experience to make a decision to arrest the parents.
The investigation was passed to Det Supt Mike Forrester who, the IPCC said, appeared to jump to conclusions and disregard what was at least a feasible line of inquiry.
Kimber concluded that both Forrester and Sadler had cases to answer for gross misconduct. Forrester retired so no further action could be taken. Sadler was subjected to a disciplinary hearing last year where gross incompetency was proven and she was demoted in rank. She too has since retired from the force. Both officers are understood to have retired on full pensions.
MP John Woodcock said: “This long suppressed report shows the scale of Cumbria police’s failings are even worse than we thought. On top of all the other indications, it is chilling that Poppi’s father was not investigated for many months despite the police holding relevant intelligence on him, as today’s report reveals.”
A full inquest in Poppi’s death is due to be held in May.
