Police apologise to victim Kelly Faiers’ family over 2023 Minehead murder probe

Paul JonesOctober 21, 20250 Comment0

AVON & Somerset Police have issued an apology to the family of Kelly Faiers – who died in Minehead in October 2023 – over “several of the decisions made” during the investigation into her death.

Kelly, 61, died at a flat in the town – home of Richard Scatchard – on October 15 that year, with her passing initially deemed to be ‘non-suspicious’.

However, that decision was reversed a day later, with a murder probe launched and officers hunting Scatchard, who had disappeared since the death was reported.

He was found dead in a caravan near Watchet on April 4, 2024 – almost six months after Kelly died.

An Independent Office for Police Conduct report has now found the level of service provided to the family of Kelly was “unacceptable” and highlighted “failings in the force’s response to her death”.

Among them was how news of the decision to treat her death as murder was not relayed to the family for 48 hours, the police force said in a statement, adding it was “in part due to being unable to locate trained family liaison officers to meet Ms Faiers’ family and deliver the update in-person”.

“Similarly, we recognise the additional distress experienced by Ms Faiers’ family at learning of Mr Scatchard’s criminal record through an online search and by not disclosing sooner he was at the address and spoken to by officers when police initially attended,” the police statement went on.

“This was information that should have been privately communicated to Mrs Faiers’ family in a sensitive way and at an appropriate time.

“The IOPC also found the service level was unacceptable in terms of the decision made not to arrest Mr Scatchard at the scene of Ms Faiers’ death.

“While we are committed to being transparent around that decision, we consider commenting further at this stage would be inappropriate in light of ongoing coronial proceedings.

“In four of the seven areas of the family’s complaint the IOPC determined the service level was acceptable and the actions taken by Avon and Somerset Police were reasonable and/or appropriate.

“No conduct or unsatisfactory performance matters were identified by the IOPC relating to any of our officers or staff.

“It did, however, identify areas where three officers’ performance fell short of expectations and believed that these were suitable to be dealt with via the reflective review practice process.

“This process is overseen by an officer of a more senior rank and is designed to be a challenging and transformative learning process when an improvement need has been identified.

Richard Scatchard went missing after the death of Kelly Faiers. Picture: Avon & Somerset Police

“No organisational learning for Avon and Somerset Police was identified. The contents of the IOPC’s report are being closely reviewed and analysed to consider and implement any further learning and improvements to the service we provide to the public.

“We have taken the family’s concerns seriously and referred the complaints received in December 2023 to the IOPC.

“To ensure complete transparency, officers and staff have provided the IOPC with detailed accounts and evidence to assist them with its enquiries and we welcome the independent scrutiny the IOPC has been able to provide.

“A separate mandatory IOPC referral was made in April 2024 on the grounds of death following police contact after confirmation of Mr Scatchard’s death at a caravan site in Watchet.

“The IOPC determined this was suitable for local investigation by Avon and Somerset Police. That process is ongoing.”

IOPC director, Derrick Campbell, said: “Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the family of Kelly Faiers for their loss.

“Avon and Somerset Police could and should have done better in the tragic circumstances of this case. We found the service provided by the force was unacceptable regarding three individual officers, whose actions and decisions fell below expectations.

“While we did not find any evidence to indicate they may have breached police standards of professional behaviour, justifying disciplinary proceedings, we decided the officers should reflect and learn from the failings we identified and they will undergo the reflective practice review process (RPRP).”