Mr Brown · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 5 February 2024 I commenced an investigation into the death of Wayne Stephen BROWN.
The investigation concluded at the end of the Inquest . The conclusion of the inquest was; Suicide

Mr Brown was found hanging ████████ at his home address on 24/01/24 after concerns were raised for his welfare. He was confirmed deceased by police at 10.50am. He had raised a complaint for harassment and had recently been suffering extreme stress arising from the ongoing harassment case and a recent work investigation regarding his qualifications which had become public. In the days leading up to his death nothing had indicated to others that he would take his own life but his intention to do so was clear from the note he left.

Following a post mortem, the medical cause of death was determined to be:

1a Hanging

1b

1c

1d

II

1. WMFS did not undertake any investigation after Mr Brown’s death and have no policy requiring them to do so. Any opportunity to learn from a death such as a suicide related to work events including what welfare support was provided has not been addressed. This creates a risk of future deaths and action should be taken.

2. Neither WMFS health and wellbeing policy nor the mental health policy make any provision for supporting senior staff members who are facing significant stress and/or potential disciplinary investigations beyond the person approaching Occupational health themselves. The policy offers further support to lower ranks. In addition, there was no formal mechanism for recording concerns about welfare that arise during either an informal or a fact finding investigation. This creates a risk of future deaths and action should be taken.