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30/01/2012
Police Respond To Cement Mixer Death Criticism
Police in Esssex have issued a response to a report by the complaints commission who were looking into police treatment of a tragic cement mixer death in 2002.
The initial case involved Lee Balkwell, 33, who was found dead at a farm near South Ockendon on July 18, 2002. He had been found in the moving parts of an industrial cement mixer.
The man's father, Les Balkwell, 65, filed some 130 complaints over the police's handling of the case and maintained that his son had been the victim of a murder.
However, an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) report found eight senior officers made 25 errors involving officers’ actions and decision making during the initial investigation in 2002.
Responding to the report on Monday, Essex police said: "It is clear that there were failings during the course of the investigation and subsequent reviews. Deputy Chief Constable Derek Benson has sent a letter of apology to Lee’s father Les Balkwell and Lee’s partner Lorraine Mitchinson for the failings.
A spokesman for the constabulary said: "In the last nine years since Lee Balkwell’s death, Essex Police’s structure and approach to investigating homicide and unnatural death has changed. The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate has been formed and the identification, training, mentoring, accreditation and support of Senior Investigating Officers in line with national best practise has been adopted.
"Meanwhile, the criminal investigation into Lee Balkwell’s death continues under the leadership of Det Chief Supt Lee Catling of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate. This investigation will be overseen by Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge, Head of SCD."
The IPCC report said it had not found any evidence of a crime or anything to back up Les Balkwell's other claims of corruption.
An inquest in 2008 returned a verdict of unlawful killing through gross negligence.
(DW)
The initial case involved Lee Balkwell, 33, who was found dead at a farm near South Ockendon on July 18, 2002. He had been found in the moving parts of an industrial cement mixer.
The man's father, Les Balkwell, 65, filed some 130 complaints over the police's handling of the case and maintained that his son had been the victim of a murder.
However, an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) report found eight senior officers made 25 errors involving officers’ actions and decision making during the initial investigation in 2002.
Responding to the report on Monday, Essex police said: "It is clear that there were failings during the course of the investigation and subsequent reviews. Deputy Chief Constable Derek Benson has sent a letter of apology to Lee’s father Les Balkwell and Lee’s partner Lorraine Mitchinson for the failings.
A spokesman for the constabulary said: "In the last nine years since Lee Balkwell’s death, Essex Police’s structure and approach to investigating homicide and unnatural death has changed. The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate has been formed and the identification, training, mentoring, accreditation and support of Senior Investigating Officers in line with national best practise has been adopted.
"Meanwhile, the criminal investigation into Lee Balkwell’s death continues under the leadership of Det Chief Supt Lee Catling of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate. This investigation will be overseen by Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge, Head of SCD."
The IPCC report said it had not found any evidence of a crime or anything to back up Les Balkwell's other claims of corruption.
An inquest in 2008 returned a verdict of unlawful killing through gross negligence.
(DW)
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