Anthony John Raymond INGRAM · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 7th April 2022 I commenced an investigation into the tragic death of-

Anthony John Raymond INGRAM

The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 26th January 2023. The conclusion of the inquest was that:-

Anthony Ingram, died as the result of suicide

The medical cause of death was confirmed as:

1a Hanging

Anthony Ingram was found deceased at his second home in Westleton, Suffolk, on the 29th March 2022.

When found, Anthony was inside the property, suspended by a rope around his neck.

Anthony lived in London, and his mental health had been deteriorating over a period of time.

On 29th March 2022, at approximately 13:30 Anthony left London and headed towards his second home in Suffolk.

Anthony was known to be in possession of rope and a ‘collapsible’ bicycle when he left.

The information regarding the rope and the bicycle was not passed to Suffolk police at the time the case was reported to them.

At 17:50 a Suffolk officer attended Anthony’s second home but did not enter although keys were available from a neighbour. Anthony’s vehicle was not present, and the officer formed the opinion that he had insufficient information to enter the premises under Section 17, Police and Criminal Evidence Act at that time.

Shortly after this time, Anthony’s vehicle was found in a car park more than two miles from his second home, and police search activity was focused there.

At approximately 20:00, once Suffolk officers became aware that Anthony had a rope, and the search of the car park area had failed to locate him, they returned to the second home and entered, finding Anthony deceased. The collapsible bicycle was found in the hallway.

Poor communication between the Metropolitan Police and Suffolk Constabulary meant that the officers on the ground were missing information which would have informed their decision making regarding the search for Anthony and informed their use of police powers.

This resulted in a missed opportunity to find Anthony earlier than he was found.

Evidence was heard from police officers from both the Metropolitan Police and Suffolk Constabulary.

The officers provided evidence of the details they respectively held regarding the missing person investigation surrounding Anthony’s disappearance from London and subsequent death.

It was clear that crucial information (that Anthony had a rope in his possession, and a collapsible bicycle providing a secondary form of transport) was not passed between the Metropolitan Police and Suffolk Constabulary.

It was heard that there was no set format, or prescribed information requirements to be shared by officers reporting missing persons between one force and another. Investigating officers in the Metropolitan police spoke to the Suffolk Constabulary control room, whose staff logged what they were told onto the CAD record. This information was then relayed to the officers on the ground.

Witnesses in this case stated that there is no standardised information sharing requirement or protocol for cross border missing persons investigations (including missing persons with suicidal ideation).

I am concerned that, as there is no standardised information sharing requirements or protocols in such cases, in the future a force receiving details of a suicidal missing person may also not be informed that an individual has taken a means of suicide with them. In addition, other important information that may assist in the search for that person may also not be passed.