Coronor's recommendations

The request was successful.

Independent Police Support Group

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

The following is a narrative from Hornsey coroner's court where the coroner subsequently made recommendations to the MPS to prevent a similar tragedy occurring.

Please provide any relevant information as to what steps were taken following the recommendations of the coronor.

"On 12th November 2006 at approximately 11am Timothy John Payne was found at his home 1, Burlington Road, Enfield having hanged himself.

Mr Payne was under investigation for a number of allegations. He was arrested and subsequently questioned on a number of occasions. He was suspended from his role as a police officer. There was a restraining order freezing his assets.

Other friends and colleagues were drawn into the investigation. This all had a profound effect on his mental state.

He was convinced he would lose his job and go to prison for 8-14 years. He felt guilty that his friends and colleagues had been implicated. Mr Payne was a proud and private man who felt humiliated and singled out. He became paranoid and his appearance changed. He became the shell of the man he was. All of this contributed to this tragedy.

During his time in custody there was a collective responsibility for the care and welfare of Mr Payne. Evidence suggests that Mr Payne's condition deteriorated.

He was depressed, was at a high risk of self harm and verbalised his intentions to end his life. There was a prior attempt of self harm and a note. Mr Payne was put on constant watch for his own safety.

On the basis of this evidence the crisis team should have been contacted with a view to having Mr Payne further assessed. This represents a failure to provide basic aftercare.

There was a further failure on the part of the investigating team to communicate certain important facts about Mr Payne which would have led to the interviews being stopped.

Other individuals involved involved in the custody stages carried out their duties with Mr Payne's constant welfare in mind.

On Mr Payne's release from custody there was no adequate written welfare plan in place to ensure his safety, and formal roles and responsibilities were not clearly defined. This represents a failure to provide basic aftercare.

Mr Payne's friends tried their very best to help and support him. There was nothing further they could have done to prevent this tragedy from happening."

Yours faithfully,

Independent Police Support Group

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Independent Police Support Group,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No:2010020001884

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 03/02/2010.

DECISION

I have decided to refuse access to the information you have requested
under the provisions of Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000
(the Act).

REASON FOR DECISION

Section 8 of the Act provides:

(1) In this Act any reference to a "request for information" is a
reference to such a request which-

(a) is in writing,
(b) states the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence,
and
(c) describes the information requested.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a), a request is to be
treated as made in writing where the text of the request-

(a) is transmitted by electronic means,
(b) is received in legible form, and
(c) is capable of being used for subsequent reference.

I am not required to process your request without information that can
later be referred to, as per Section 8 (1)(b). The information we require
is your name.

To enable us to meet your request could you please resubmit your
application in accordance with the above requirements. If for any reason
you are unable to do so, please contact me for assistance or seek
assistance from any other available source.

We will consider your resubmitted request upon receipt as long as it meets
the requirements stated above. You will receive the information requested
within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act,
subject to the information not being exempt.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

If you are dissatisfied with this response please read the attached paper
entitled Complaint Rights which explains how to make a complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact me at the email address at the top of this letter, quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Katie London
Policy and Support Officer

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the case officer that dealt with your request.

Ask to have the decision looked at again -

The quickest and easiest way to have the decision looked at again is to
telephone the case officer that is nominated at the end of your decision
letter.

That person will be able to discuss the decision, explain any issues and
assist with any problems.

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 40 working days.

The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700

show quoted sections

Independent Police Support Group

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

My name is Julian Panayiotou and I am the founder of the IPSG.

I hope this is sufficient for you to proceed with my request.

Yours faithfully,

Independent Police Support Group

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Mr Panayiotou,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2010020002148
I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 09/02/2010. I note you seek
access to the following information:

* The following is a narrative from Hornsey coroner's court where the
coroner subsequently made recommendations to the MPS to prevent a
similar tragedy occurring.
* Please provide any relevant information as to what steps were taken
following the recommendations of the coronor:
* "On 12th November 2006 at approximately 11am Timothy John Payne was
found at his home 1, Burlington Road, Enfield having hanged himself.
Mr Payne was under investigation for a number of allegations.
* He was arrested and subsequently questioned on a number of occasions.
He was suspended from his role as a police officer. There was a
restraining order freezing his assets. Other friends and colleagues
were drawn into the investigation. This all had a profound effect on
his mental state. He was convinced he would lose his job and go to
prison for 8-14 years.
* He felt guilty that his friends and colleagues had been implicated.
Mr Payne was a proud and private man who felt humiliated and singled
out. He became paranoid and his appearance changed. He became the
shell of the man he was. All of this contributed to this tragedy.
During his time in custody there was a collective responsibility for
the care and welfare of Mr Payne. Evidence suggests that Mr Payne's
condition deteriorated.
* He was depressed, was at a high risk of self harm and verbalised his
intentions to end his life. There was a prior attempt of self harm and
a note. Mr Payne was put on constant watch for his own safety. On the
basis of this evidence the crisis team should have been contacted with
a view to having Mr Payne further assessed.
* This represents a failure to provide basic aftercare. There was a
further failure on the part of the investigating team to communicate
certain important facts about Mr Payne which would have led to the
interviews being stopped. Other individuals involved involved in the
custody stages carried out their duties with Mr Payne's constant
welfare in mind.
* On Mr Payne's release from custody there was no adequate written
welfare plan in place to ensure his safety, and formal roles and
responsibilities were not clearly defined. This represents a failure
to provide basic aftercare.
* Mr Payne's friends tried their very best to help and support him.
There was nothing further they could have done to prevent this tragedy
from happening."

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (the Act). You will receive a response within
the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act,
subject to the information not being exempt or containing a reference
to a third party. In some circumstances the MPS may be unable to
achieve this deadline. If this is likely you will be informed and
given a revised time-scale at the earliest opportunity.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your
right of complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
contact Katie London at the email address at the top of this letter
quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Katie London
Policy and Support Officer
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think
the decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the case officer that dealt with your
request.

Ask to have the decision looked at again –

The quickest and easiest way to have the decision looked at again is
to telephone the case officer that is nominated at the end of your
decision letter.

That person will be able to discuss the decision, explain any issues
and assist with any problems.

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision
of the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act)
regarding access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS
to have the decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 40 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied
with the decision you may make application to the Information
Commissioner for a decision on whether the request for information has
been dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information
Commissioner please visit their website at
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk. Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700

show quoted sections

Independent Police Support Group

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

We have not received a response or notification that you may need more time.

Can you please provide an update.

Yours faithfully,
Independent Police Support Group

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

Dear Mr Panayiotou,

Thank you for your email.

The deadline for this request is the 9th March 2010.

I have forwarded your email to the Information Manager, Damion Baird,
working on your request.

Kind Regards,

Katie London
Public Access Office

show quoted sections

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Panayiotou,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009110006476

I write in response to your request for information that was received by
the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 09 February 2010. I apologise for
the delay in responding to your request and any inconvenience caused. I
note that you seek access to the following information:
In relation to the death of Mr Timothy John Payne:

* Please provide any relevant information as to what steps were taken
following the recommendations of the Coroner.

Following receipt of your request, I have conducted searches to locate
information relevant to your request. I have located the following records
relevant to your request.

1. Letter authored by then Commander Stuart Osborne to Her Majesty's
Coroner dated 13 October 2008.

2. Aware notice 21 of 2009.
DECISION
I have disclosed the located information to you in full.

Please note that I have removed the contact details of then Commander
Osborne as they are not relevant to your request.
COMPLAINT RIGHTS
Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right of
complaint.

I would to thank you for your interest in the MPS.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
to me at [email address] or contact me on telephone number 0207
230 5204 quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Damion Baird
Information Manager
Directorate of Professional Standards

In complying with their statutory duty under sections 1 and 11 of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 to release the enclosed information, the
Metropolitan Police Service will not breach the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988. However, the rights of the copyright owner of the
enclosed information will continue to be protected by law. Applications
for the copyright owner's written permission to reproduce any part of the
attached information should be addressed to MPS Directorate of Legal
Services, 1st Floor (Victoria Block), New Scotland Yard, Victoria, London,
SW1H 0BG.
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the case officer that dealt with your request.

Ask to have the decision looked at again ***

The quickest and easiest way to have the decision looked at again is to
telephone the case officer that is nominated at the end of your decision
letter.

That person will be able to discuss the decision, explain any issues and
assist with any problems.

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 40 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700

show quoted sections

Simon ROSE left an annotation ()

If anyone has any further information about the suicide of PC Timothy (Tommy) John PAYNE would they kindly contact me on 07712 228214. This is currently being re investigated. THIS IS NOT A POLICE / IPCC INVESTIGATION. All calls will be treated as confidential.