Dealing with Police

Mojisola

SlimmingSusan wrote: »

This has exacerbated my mental health problems. ie depression

Am losing sleep and having nightmares about this.

Dimey wrote: »

I did actually complain to the Health Authority about the hospital but they covered up and it was just a 2 year frustrating, demoralising waste of time.

Hard as it will be to let the care home get away with the way they treated your father, you must put your own health first.

As Dimey experienced, pursuing the case would be very hard on you.

madbadrob

Ok the police only have a duty to inform the next of kin of how the investigation is going. They will tell an appointed person of the next of kin what is occuring. They have no legal right to tell you as the daughter even though he was your dad. If you wish to change this you would have to get your mum to tell the officer dealing with the case. I would also ask who the family liason officer is dealing with this case. You could also make a formal complaint to the duty inspector who will listen to you and advise you. He will then give you a reason and if you dont agree you can ask for it to be passed to the PCC for their input.

Your mother is of an age where it was normal for the woman to be subservient to a male and she may feel comfortable with a man dealing with the police.

I would also offer a warning. Discussing the case on the internet could be seen as jeapordising any future trial and make a prosecution impossible so id not say too much about it.

Sorry I cant say anything more positive

Rob

redrabbit29

This may well be a case to be heard at Coroners Court.

For your information this is a fairly informal court where an inquiry is held in relation to the death of a person and several people are usually called to give opinion and information.

Family members are allowed to go but not required to.

As stated above, the Police will not be able to tell you some things, and I wouldn't be too worried about them telling others as I'm sure the same rule will apply to everyone.

As for giving a statement - that may not be required so don't be surprised if they don't need to speak to you.

In any event, they should treat you with some empathy and respond to your questions as best as they can.

SlimmingSusan

thanks redrabbit. When Dad died in may it was put straight through to the cononer, who then called my dad's gp. The gp said it was death by pneumonia, and released dad's body for cremation, which was the point I got really upset and tried to stop it, but couldn't, as the hospital and the police said they had all the evidence, photos etc, and nothing more could be sought, therefore the body could be cremated. I really did not want this to happen, as is on threads on here at the time.

The police inspector has not phoned me as promised, this has happened time and again.

Can I complain, and how please? My 80 year old mother has mental health problems, surely I have some kind of say in this. I exist, I am not invisible, despite feeling it!!!

Thanks to Rob as well, your comments have been noted.

This is really getting to me, how can I leave something like this, but who doI turn to for help?

Dimey, your post had me bawling my eyes out. I was executor in my Dad's will, but seems it was only in the case my mother could not act as executor.

I really feel deep down it is futile trying to battle these authorities, but I have a duty to my dad, and a strong sense of justice.

If you are not loaded, and cannot afford decent solicitors, then where the heck do you you stand?

I know too well, as was on legal aid in my divorce and was stuffed by my husband.

I wish I could just draw a line and move on, considering I am doing a psychology degree, maybe will find out how eventually.

Just wanted to add, that the gp who gave consent for cremation had visited my dad twice in the week before he was admitted in such a state, and had failed to pick up on his neglect. He now comes out to the welcome my mother every time she attends the surgery, talk about admission of guilt!

SlimmingSusan

Itsgottabedone, thanks for your comments also, my confidence is so low and mother is so overpowering that I question if I have any rights to seek justice for my father at all. He was my rock, and showed me affection where my mother did not.

Do I have a right, even in my own right, to ask questions and ask for support from someone outside the family?

Mojisola

SlimmingSusan wrote: »

Itsgottabedone, thanks for your comments also, my confidence is so low and mother is so overpowering that I question if I have any rights to seek justice for my father at all. He was my rock, and showed me affection where my mother did not.

Do I have a right, even in my own right, to ask questions and ask for support from someone outside the family?

Of course you do.

SlimmingSusan

Thanks Mojisola, see how low my confidence is? My mother almost warns me off as dad is hers not mine.

Have just spoken to family solicitor, who kindly speaks to me free of charge. My mother was sole executor, me and ex husband only if she could not act. Was all very confusing, just left her to it.

The original log now seems to ave mysteriously disappeared from the police computer.
.
I have left this and left this, trying to think son and mother were dealing with it, and putting it away as much as possible. I knew my son had so much else going on so was not 'onto it', and my mother denies all reality. I really hope it is not too late.

Solicitor has suggested contact with MP

hardpressed

I know you only want to get justice for what happened to your dad but would he want you to do this to the extent of making yourself ill? Nothing can harm him now, cherish the good times you had, nobody can take them away for you. Leave it to the police to deal with it.

Pricivius

I'm no expert (but have been in a very similar situation regarding poor care of a close relative twice) but I would think about whether there is an alternative way of seeking closure and getting "justice" for your Dad.

Courts, Tribunals and the Police are justice in its literal sense, but there are other forms.

When my relative was ill-treated at a care home which caused him to collapse and die four days later, I went back and spoke to them. They cried with me. They knew what had happened and there was no need to speak of it. I looked them in the eye and knew that I could do no more to stop it happening again.

I could have got the police involved or sued them. I may have won and ended up with some cash. But for what? Years of stress dealing with statements and defences, the care home closing ranks with no one willing to speak, costing ridiculous amounts of money to the council-run care home and the taxpayer. Where would that get anyone?

Instead, I made them face the truth of what had happened. I didn't want to see charts or finger-pointing or excuses. I just wanted to them to know that whatever went wrong should never go wrong again.

Who knows whether it actually worked. Who knows whether a lengthy police investigation and court case would have worked better. But I know I found closure and justice for my relatives.

Good luck with whatever you decide...

Dimey

OP - you asked where you could go for justice that doesn't cost a fortune for solicitors.....

When I was complaining I wasn't looking for financial compensation, just justice - an apology for the neglect and cruelty.
I dealt with the Healthcare Commission but they've been disbanded and the authority is now the Parliamentary & Healthcare Ombudsman: -

http://www.ombudsman.org.uk/


If the carehome was not NHS then the Ombudsman may not be able to adjudicate. You'll have to investigate. There are links on the site, so might be worth a browse.

I also spoke with these people ICAS but didn't progress it as the Healthcare Commission took up my Mum's case.: -

http://www.ourhealth.southeastcoast.nhs.uk/services/icas-independent-complaints-advocacy-service-tunbridge-wells.html