A senior coroner in Somerset has expressed serious concerns regarding the police handling of a case involving the death of 61-year-old Kelly Faiers.
Kelly was found dead in October 2023 at the home of Richard Scatchard, a 70-year-old convicted sex offender who had been living under a life licence. An inquest on July 8 concluded that Kelly was unlawfully killed. She had been in a secret six-month relationship with Scatchard, which was never disclosed to her family or his probation officers.
Despite police officers at the scene suspecting manslaughter and wanting to arrest Scatchard, a duty detective sergeant overruled them, instructing that no arrest be made. The officers involved described feeling “confused, angry and frustrated,” feeling that their genuine concerns were dismissed.
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Coroner Samantha Marsh criticized this decision, noting that the officers exhibited sound judgment based on Scatchard’s suspicious behavior and inconsistent statements. She acknowledged the police hierarchy and the challenges officers face when their instincts conflict with orders from senior ranks, but emphasized the importance of heeding frontline concerns, especially when dealing with dangerous offenders.
Tragically, Scatchard disappeared before police could detain him and was later found dead in April 2024 in a caravan in Watchet, Somerset.
The coroner plans to write to the chief constable of Avon and Somerset Police demanding a review of the decision-making processes and hierarchical communication that led to the missed opportunity for an arrest.
Following the incident, three complaints against Avon and Somerset Police were upheld by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The force issued a formal apology to Kelly Faiers’ family. While some aspects of the police service were deemed acceptable, the IOPC found the conduct of three individual officers fell below expected standards, leading to mandatory reflective practice reviews, although no disciplinary action was pursued.
IOPC Director Derrick Campbell expressed sympathy for the family and emphasized that whilst no professional misconduct was proven, the officers involved must learn from these failures.
An inquest into the death of Richard Scatchard is scheduled for Thursday.