POLICE officers have given statements as part of an ongoing probe into how the death of Kelly Faiers in Minehead was investigated.

Ms Faiers, 61, died at the home of Richard Scatchard on October 15, 2023, after the pair had been for an evening out the previous night.

Scatchard called an ambulance in the early hours of October 15, claiming Ms Faiers was ill.

Sadly, she died at the scene.

Police also attended and spoke to Scatchard, before leaving. When they returned the following day, he had disappeared.

Despite a months-long search for Scatchard – who had been convicted of a number of sex offences in 2000 – he could not be traced.

His body was found in a caravan near Watchet on April 4 this year.

Ms Faiers’ family have spoken of their anger over the investigation – and how Scatchard was not arrested after the death and submitted complaints to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Kelly Faiers

“Ms Faiers’ family raised concerns with Avon and Somerset Police about its investigation into her death in December 2023,” an IOPC spokesperson said.

“Their complaints are in relation to the decisions made and actions taken by Avon and Somerset Police immediately after Ms Faiers’ death, including their management of the scene, the decision not to arrest Mr Scatchard or start a criminal investigation and the communications police had with her family after Ms Faiers died.”

They said the IOPC investigation in to the complaints is continuing, “looking at the actions and decision-making of police officers involved, as well as examining if force policies and procedures were followed correctly”.

“We have obtained statements from relevant police officers, taken accounts from witnesses, and are continuing to follow up on enquiries with the Probation Service and Offender Management,” they added.

IOPC regional director, David Ford, said: “I send my sincere sympathies to Ms Faiers’ family over the sudden loss of their loved one. Our thoughts are with them and everyone affected by her death.

“Our investigation, carried out independently of police, is thorough and will ensure that the actions of the officers involved are properly scrutinised.

“In particular, we are analysing the police decision not to detain Mr Scatchard or begin a criminal investigation immediately after Ms Faiers was found at his address.

“We are considering what information officers who attended the Minehead address had when Mr Scatchard was first spoken to and any liaison that took place between them and supervisory officers.

“We have been in contact with Ms Faiers’ family to explain our role and we will be giving regular updates to them as our investigation continues to develop.”

Following a mandatory referral from Avon and Somerset Police after Scatchard’s body was found, due to prior police contact with him, the IOPC said it had advised Avon & Somerset Police’s professional standards department to carry out a local investigation into their search and into his death.

“The IOPC will retain a degree of oversight by reviewing the force’s investigation on completion,” a spokesperson said.

“We have also instructed the force that if any conduct matters arise for individuals from their local investigation, they must be referred to the IOPC.”