Police Investigation Into Katie Simpson's Death ‘Flawed'

The Police Ombudsman has heavily criticised the initial police investigation into the death of Katie Simpson, concluding that it was "flawed" and "failed the Simpson family".

Katie Simpson tragically died in August 2020 after being driven part-way to hospital by Jonathan Creswell, who was later charged with her murder. Despite numerous red flags, including concerns about controlling behaviour and suspicious circumstances surrounding her injuries, the police initially treated her death as a suicide.

The Ombudsman's report highlighted several key failings in the investigation:

• Misleading assumptions: Police officers prematurely assumed Katie's injuries were self-inflicted, hindering a thorough investigation.

• Lack of investigative rigour: Insufficient evidence gathering, including a failure to properly search the crime scene and seize crucial devices.

• Overreliance on the suspect's account: Police accepted Creswell's version of events without sufficient scrutiny.

• Missed opportunities: Key lines of inquiry, such as investigating the circumstances of Katie's alleged fall from a horse and analysing CCTV footage, were not pursued.

Speaking after the investigation findings were given to the Simpson family, Hugh Hume, Police Ombudsman Chief Executive, said: "Intelligence received by police both prior to, and following, Katie's death referenced that she may have been the victim of controlling behaviours, that the attempted suicide was suspicious, that Katie had not fallen from a horse, and that medical staff had also expressed concerns about the circumstances of Katie's injuries. "Although it is clear that this intelligence was viewed and logged by police, it did not change the direction of the police investigation.

"There appeared to be a general lack of an investigative mindset which contributed to shortcomings in evidence identification and retrieval, scene management and identification, a willingness to accept at face value the accounts from Jonathan Creswell, and ultimately confusion around the ownership of the police investigation."

The Police Ombudsman also highlighted significant failings in the oversight and management of the investigation. The case was initially assigned to an inexperienced officer, despite concerns from more senior colleagues. This lack of supervision and guidance, coupled with a general lack of investigative rigour, allowed crucial evidence to be missed and potentially dangerous individuals to remain at large.

The Police Ombudsman's investigation uncovered breaches of professional conduct by multiple police officers. While some faced disciplinary action, others were protected by retirement. The Ombudsman also made recommendations to improve future investigations, including stronger oversight and clearer procedures for handling serious incidents. However, ongoing investigations into potential police misconduct have prevented the full disclosure of findings related to Katie Simpson's case.

The Police Ombudsman report can be read in full here.