The family of Kelly Faiers, 61, who was found dead at the home of convicted sex offender Richard Scatchard, have expressed deep disillusionment with the justice system following a damning report from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Ms. Faiers died on October 15, 2023, at Scatchard’s residence in Minehead, Somerset. Scatchard, 70, had a history of sexual offences involving drugging his victims. Police initially attended the scene and interviewed Scatchard, contemplating arrest; however, CID advised against it.
Only the next day did officers classify Ms. Faiers’s death as murder and return to the property, by which time Scatchard had fled. His body was later discovered in a caravan near Cleeve Hill, Watchet on April 4, 2024.
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The family raised multiple complaints regarding Avon and Somerset Police’s handling of the case. The IOPC found the police response to be “unacceptable” in three out of seven complaints, prompting an official apology from the force.
In a statement, Ms. Faiers’s family described the police’s actions as causing “indescribable and extended trauma,” further eroding their confidence in the justice system. They acknowledged the compassion of some officers on the ground but criticized those overseeing the operation.
The investigation revealed troubling delays: the family was not informed for 48 hours that the death was being treated as suspicious, nor were they told of Scatchard’s sex offender history, which they uncovered independently online.
While the IOPC determined that certain officers’ conduct fell below standards, it found no grounds for misconduct charges. Officers involved will undergo reflective practice reviews to address shortcomings.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed no formal misconduct was identified among its personnel and cited challenges such as locating trained family liaison officers as reasons for communication delays. The force reiterated its apology for distress caused.
The tragic case has highlighted significant systemic failings and left Ms. Faiers’s family struggling to find closure despite Scatchard’s death. They stress that justice was not served, and their faith in the system remains shattered.