Police failed vulnerable Bristol patient, hearing told

At the Avon and Somerset Police misconduct hearing at the force’s headquarters in Portishead, the panel heard that PC Stone and Sweet ended up finding her under the influence of drugs wearing only her pajamas and dressing gown on a cold night.

Solicitor Alan Jenkins, representing the police, said the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was a heroin and cocaine user who was staying in a high-care ward at Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) and went out to a cigarette. .

He said she got into a car with a man she knew who had a reputation for violence and he drove her down an alleyway and attacked her, stealing £280 and her mobile phone , according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

She told the officers in the police car that she had been strangled by a man who tried to kill her.

PC Stone said in his statement that he was unaware of a crime as he did not hear the woman in the car as he was focused on driving, but Mr Jenkins said this was not true.

Mr Jenkins said: “Both officers failed to protect this lady.

“She was vulnerable but the officers did not ask any questions or pursue any enquiries.

“Both officers knew this was a violent man but took no action to apprehend him.”