MICHAEL Matheson was last night under pressure to explain why he had not acted sooner to address police call handling problems after a young mother who lay in a crashed car next to her dead boyfriend for three days died in hospital yesterday.
As the Justice Secretary ordered a review of call handling following the tragedy, concerns were raised over why he had not responded four months ago when he was warned of issues following a reduction in the number of control rooms being made by chief constable Sir Stephen House.
Lamara Bell, 25, suffered multiple injuries in the crash off the M9 near Stirling on Sunday last week, but officers failed to respond despite a call being made by a member of the public.
She was found alive on Wednesday, beside John Yuill, 28, who had been driving the car, when a farmer found the vehicle in his field and phoned the police.
Last night, it emerged Willie Rennie, the Liberal Democrat leader, told ministers in March that in one day 1,000 calls were lost at the control room in Bilston Glen, Mid Lothian, as members of the public gave up trying to reach the service. Rennie told The National yesterday he was informed the original call made to report the accident last Sunday went to the Bilston Glen centre.
The MSP welcomed the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) review of call handling, but criticised the minister for not ordering it sooner.
“Perhaps the tragedy could have been avoided if ministers had listened to pleas from staff, police officers and politicians to have a review of the system a few months ago,” he said.
“I think Michael Matheson should have responded back in March. We were asking him to have a proper investigation then.”
Rennie said he did not think the HMIC review nor an independent inquiry into the incident by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, which began last week, was sufficient, and called for a wider investigation.
He said: “Michael Matheson needs to examine the target culture being set by the chief constable that is changing the nature of Police Scotland, he also needs to examine the use of stop and search, and the arming of officers on routine duties – among other things.”
Ken Macintosh, the Scottish Labour leader candidate, added: “I would like to know whether the issues which happened are connected to any of the wider problems facing the force and I want to know what the Scottish Government is doing about it.”
The Scottish Conservatives’ justice spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell said: “The second death in relation to this incident really increases the pressure on Police Scotland and the Scottish Government. They both assured the public the 101 number was working well and there was nothing to worry about, despite police officers telling a different story.”
Lamara, a mother-of-two, was taken to Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, with broken bones, and kidney damage as a result of dehydration. But she lost her fight for life shortly before 7am yesterday. John is thought to have died instantly in the impact.
Police Scotland’s Chief Constable last week apologised to the relatives of the two crash victims.
Sir Stephen House admitted police had “failed both families”. In a fresh statement issued yesterday, he said: “On behalf of Police Scotland, we are all deeply saddened by the news of Lamara Bell’s death, and I would personally like to express my deepest sympathies to her family and friends for their loss. We will continue to co-operate fully with the police investigations and review commissioner as they undertake their investigation into the circumstances of this tragic incident.”
The couple were reported missing after visiting Loch Earn, Stirlingshire, in a blue Renault Clio. A member of the public contacted Police Scotland, 11.30am on Sunday, July 5, to report they could see the vehicle down an embankment near the M9 slip road at Bannockburn. The call was answered, but “for reasons yet to be established” it was not entered on to police systems and no action was taken. The car was found when officers were called to the scene on Wednesday.
A statement from the Bell family requested privacy and said: “Sadly, our daughter has passed away.” John’s relatives said: “The family of John Yuill would like to say that their prayers and thoughts are with Lamara and her family. We are devastated by the sad news this morning. The families have messaged each other and our thoughts are with John and Lamara’s children at this very sad time.”
The Justice Secretary said: “This is an extremely tragic case and I welcome the full investigation into what has happened that is being undertaken by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.”
He directed a formal investigation and review of call handling and process. Police Scotland disputed claims made by Rennie in March, and denied it took callers 58 minutes to get through on 101 or 999, saying average time was one minute.
Willie Rennie: 'We need an independent investigation into these serious police failures'
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here