A MAN who attacked others with an axe and then cut his own throat in a Glasgow street had been repeatedly reported to police in previous days.
A Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) investigation into the incident on April 13 last year praised the courage of officers who restrained the 33-year-old, who later died of his injuries.
The inquiry found that despite numerous reports about his behaviour in the days beforehand, Police Scotland did not detain or interview the man due to confusion over which area should deal with it.
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Pirc said it was not possible to determine whether later events could have been avoided.
The incident unfolded in St Vincent Street when the man attacked the brother-in-law of his former partner with an axe. A community enforcement officer was also struck. The man was then seen to cut his own throat with knives. Two officers restrained him but he died in hospital.
Pirc said the man sent threatening messages to relatives of his former partner in the days before the attack but officers were told not to go to the man’s home as the crime had been committed in another policing division. The investigation was passed on but no further action was taken.
The Pirc report said: “Examination of text messages, witness accounts and letters show that he clearly intended to attempt to murder the family member and then commit suicide.”
The officers who attended acted “courageously, professionally and proportionately”.
Pirc recommended Police Scotland issue clear guidance to officers to ensure crime reports are dealt with timeously.
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