Benjamin WEBSDALE · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 17 January 2025 I commenced an investigation into the death of Benjamin WEBSDALE (known as Ben) aged 50. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 28 January 2026. The conclusion of the inquest was a narrative conclusion namely that:

Ben died by suicide. Ben’s mental health had first deteriorated following the suicide of a young person whom he had released from custody as the duty Custody Sergeant and Ben’s subsequent attendance as a witness in his inquest proceedings. His mental health suffered further cumulative decline following a separate allegation of police misconduct and his subsequent arrest; the investigation was ongoing at the time of his death. Prior to these incidents, he did not have any mental health history.

On 16th January 2025 Ben ████████
████████ Ben was a serving Police officer at the time of his death and was the subject of a police misconduct investigation being investigated by the Independent Office police conduct. Papers having only been served upon him a few days before his death.

1. Evidence was heard at the Inquest that there is no local or national recording of cases where police officers have died by suicide or who have attempted suicide whilst under police investigation for an offence of Police Misconduct. Without this information the Police service cannot identify if suicide is more prevalent amongst Police Officers and whether additional measures need to be put in place to support officers who are in this position.

2. Similarly I heard evidence that Police officers are repeatedly exposed to high levels of suicide incidents and trauma yet not all Police forces in England and Wales had implemented the recorded “STEP” campaign (Suicide Trauma Education Prevention).