PC Tommy Payne - Dog Handler Metropolitan Police
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 furthef 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.
Chief Constable Michael Todd - Greater Manchester Police
The inquiry into the death of Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Michael Todd will look into the possibility he committed suicide.
The 50-year-old father-of-three was found dead near the summit of Mount Snowdon, north Wales, on Tuesday afternoon, his body covered in snow.
He is believed to have killed himself and sources said letters addressed to his family have been found.
Sgt Richard Bexhell - Sussex Police
A Sussex mental health trust has started an investigation into the death of a police officer who had been detained under the mental health act.
Sgt Richard Bexhell, 49, died in the intensive care unit at the Conquest Hospital, Hastings, on 30 August.
He had been admitted to the Woodlands Unit on the hospital site a day before.
Sussex Police Federation has voiced its concern about the health and wellbeing of police staff following his death. Sgt Bexhell's funeral was on Monday.
The incident follows three other sudden deaths in the force, two of which were found to be suicide.
'Completely unrelated'
The federation described the deaths as being "unprecedented".
Det Insp Brian Stockham, chairman of the federation, said: "I've never known four cases, in the 32 years I've served Sussex Police, in such a short period of time.
" Staff face a challenging role - Sussex Police is fully aware of this and has a number of systems in place to support those experiencing stress "
Marion Fanthorpe, Sussex Police human resources
"They are clearly, from what I do know, completely unrelated. There is very little commonality between them except that they are tragedies."
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Woodlands Unit, said it was carrying out an investigation into Sgt Bexhill's death and would inform his family of the findings.
Sussex Police said his death was being treated as unexplained, they were looking into the circumstances and the coroner had been informed.
'Greatly missed'
Chief Constable Martin Richards said the father-of-four, who was known as Dick, gave 22 years of loyal and dedicated service to Sussex Police.
He added: "He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family at this time."
Marion Fanthorpe, director of Sussex Police human resources, said the four recent deaths of police staff and officers were "tragic but unrelated, each due to different personal circumstances".
She added: "In common with other emergency services, staff face a challenging role. Sussex Police is fully aware of this and has a number of systems in place to support those experiencing stress at work or in their personal lives."
PC Paula Tomlinson - Firearms Officer - Merseyside Police
PC Paula Tomlinson, aged 35, a Merseyside Police Firearms officer's death, was found hanged at her home in Birkdale, near Southport, on 20 January 2004. As a result of initial investigations into her death serious concerns were raised about issues relating to alleged bullying and intimidation of PC Tomlinson during her three years at the force firearms department.
