Martin Ian Stubbs · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 29/08/2024 I commenced an investigation into the death of Martin Ian Stubbs, aged 50. The investigation concluded at the end of the Inquest on 24/10/2024. The conclusion of the Inquest was that Mr Stubbs’ death was a suicide by hanging. He had hanged himself at his home address on 26/08/2024 and left notes has family indicative of an intention to end his life. The medical cause of death was 1a) Hanging.

Mr Stubbs was a serving Police Officer. On 29/11/2022, nine days after receiving a long service and good conduct award at a formal ceremony in Wakefield, he was arrested by officers from West Yorkshire Police Professional Standards Department and bailed. He was suspended from duty. He remained suspended and on bail until his death. He had sought medical advice and assistance because of the mental strain of being suspended for so long, and a note recovered from the scene stated his belief that West Yorkshire Police had contributed to his death.

Mr Stubbs’ father (a former officer himself and still a civilian police employee) expressed his firm belief that the length of time he had been suspended from duty had played a significant part in his son’s decision to take his life. It is a concern that someone subject to an internal disciplinary process has a legitimate expectation that that process will be dealt with expeditiously in the interests of all parties, and that legitimate expectation was not met in Mr Stubbs’ case. Mr Stubbs’ family do not understand whether the delay in concluding the process reflects resource issues or an institutionalised practice of allowing such matters to drift without proactive management to bring them to a conclusion. Anecdotally, Mr Stubbs’ family are aware of other long outstanding internal disciplinary proceedings and fear other families may have to go through an experience similar to theirs.