Cops accused of causing extra grief

A retired Church of Scotland minister is demanding answers from the force after an elderly man whose wife had just died was told he could not stay in his house overnight as it was deemed a crime scene. Despite there being no suspicious circumstances, her body was then sent for a post-mortem examination in Inverness, adding to her husband’s distress.

Rev Ken Warner believes the issue stems from Police Scotland cutting back on overtime for detectives.

“I fear that bureaucracy has taken precedence over sympathy and compassion,” Mr Warner states in a letter to the force’s Highlands area commander, Chief Superintendent Julian Innes.

Halkirk resident Mr Warner, who still does relief stints for the church, says the situation for the elderly man earlier this month was ‘very disturbing.’

Mr Warner said: “The wife went upstairs late one night and, tragically, dropped dead at the top of the staircase, where she was found by her husband. He phoned his son who lives in Thurso and he phoned for an ambulance.”

Efforts by paramedics failed to revive the woman. As the ambulance had been contacted, the police arrived on the scene.

Mr Warner said the constable in charge shocked the family by declaring the house a crime scene.

“He then called an undertaker to remove the remains and insisted that the husband would not be allowed to remain in the house and the house would be locked up by the police.

“Fortunately for this poor soul, he had a son who lived locally and who was able to take him home overnight and then return to the house the following morning when the CID came to investigate.”

Mr Warner said that when he called by the following afternoon, he was shocked to learn of the events.

He continued: “The gentleman was then informed the police had been instructed to take the body to Raigmore for examination. This was another unwelcome pressure added to what was a very sad situation.”

It was, he added, disturbing to learn that a photographer was called out the following day to take shots of the so-called crime scene.

“It is not good to create a situation in a family home of good citizens where there is not any suggestion of criminality. It simply aggravates what is already a deeply upsetting event. It’s uncivilised and inhumane.”

Mr Warner said it is not good practice to put the bereaved out of their home when there is a sudden death.

He said: “The question is whether this is an error on behalf of the policemen in his interpretation of protocol or the protocol has been at fault.

“I was advised that since the introduction of the new national force on 1st April that there was to be no overtime for the CID.”

He believes that under Northern Constabulary, a detective would have been called out and inquiries quickly concluded with a death certificate being issued.

Mr Warner has since learned of a similar case where family members were horrified to be separated and cross-examined by police following a sudden death at home where again there was no suggestion of foul play.

Mr Warner said: “I fear that the national police force is bringing Strathclyde standards to the Highlands where there is a much lower level of crime.

“I fear that the presumption that a person is innocent until proved guilty has been changed to a person is guilty until proved innocent.”

Mr Warner’s grievance has been passed on to the force’s department of professional standards.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “When a complaint is referred to the professional standards department, it is a matter between the individual and the officers. It is therefore not something we could comment upon while the investigation is under way.”

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