A coroner has slammed West Yorkshire Police for how the force responded after a trainee officer who later killed himself revealed he was experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Halifax officer Anugrah Abraham, 21, was found hanged in woodland in March 2023. He was known to his loved ones as Anu.
Senior coroner Joanne Kearsley, who ruled that Anu died from suicide, has now raised concerns over how the force responded and urged for action to be taken to prevent further deaths.
Mr Abraham’s family, from Manchester, has claimed he was the victim of bullying and racism. The claim was disputed by West Yorkshire Police. An Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation was unable to find any evidence to support the claim, but did say Mr Abraham had been picked on or treated less favourably than others.
In a report published on Tuesday, January 14, Ms Kearsley found that after Mr Abraham made his suicidal thoughts known to the force in January 2023, a district sergeant sent him an email which ‘no way was reflective of a caring approach’.
While an ‘urgent referral’ was made to the Occupational Health Unit (OHU), the earliest appointment offered was three months later in April. Ms Kearsley believes an appointment should have been offered as a matter of urgency.
Anugrah Abraham was found dead on March 4
(Image: Supplied/Daily Mirror)
Mr Abraham expressed that he was experiencing suicidal thoughts during a meeting about his training with the district sergeant. Ms Kearsley’s report states: “During the course of this meeting Anu indicated he felt suicidal. An urgent referral was made to OHU. The subsequent email to Mr Abraham in no way was reflective of a caring approach to an individual who was expressing suicidal thoughts.
“Following this urgent referral to OHU an appointment was offered for April 2023. Anu should have been offered an urgent face to face appointment.”
The coroner went on to list a range of concerns. In the report Ms Kearsley said she believes the force should hire a registered mental health nurse for the OHU. She also said there should have been investigation into Mr Abraham’s quality of care, following his death.
Mr Abraham was a trainee police officer with West Yorkshire Police
(Image: Family/GoFundMe)
She added that the guidance for dealing with a suicidal officer was unclear. She noted the level of stress involved in undertaking Police Constable Degree Apprenticeships, rather than going the degree route into the force. Ms Kearsley said there should be clear documented records involved in the management of student officers.
Ms Kearsley wrote: “In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe each of you respectively have the power to take such action.”
A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “We have yesterday received the Coroner’s Report to Prevent Future Deaths relating to the death of PC Anu Abraham.
“Alongside our partners, we will review and consider its findings with a view to responding to the Coroner. Our thoughts remain with Anu’s family and friends at this time.”
The force must respond to the report by March 12 with details of what actions they plan to take.
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