Three Lancashire police officers are facing misconduct hearings following the tragic death of Kiena Dawes, a young mother who had been subjected to prolonged domestic abuse.
Kiena Dawes, aged 23, tragically took her own life in Preston on 22nd July 2022, after leaving a note on her phone in which she stated that her partner, Ryan Wellins, had killed her.
On Monday, Ryan Wellins was found guilty of assault and sustained domestic violence but was acquitted of manslaughter.
Three Lancashire Police officers are under investigation in connection with Ms. Dawes’ case. One officer faces charges of alleged gross misconduct, while two others are accused of misconduct in relation to their handling of Ms. Dawes’ contact with police prior to her death.
During the trial, jurors were told that Ms. Dawes had reported Wellins for breaching his bail conditions after he had contacted her following an earlier assault. However, a police officer dismissed her complaint, and she was allegedly advised to delete a Facebook post where she had shared details of the abuse she was experiencing.
In her final note, Ms. Dawes wrote, “I hope my life saves another by police services acting faster.” These heartbreaking words underscore the failure in responding to her pleas for help.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed that the three officers have cases to answer.
The tragic case highlights a disturbing reality: when police fail to properly investigate reports of serious violence or threats of violence, they endanger the lives of those they are sworn to protect. In cases like Kiena’s, innocent individuals too often suffer or even lose their lives at the hands of perpetrators previously reported to authorities.
It is crucial that police forces are held accountable for such failures, and that those who have suffered due to these oversights receive the compensation and justice they deserve.
At Farleys our team specialise in claims against the police, including claims for failure to investigate.
Additionally, if you have been the victim of a violent crime and sustained an injury as a result, be it physical or psychological you may be eligible to pursue a personal injury claim.
The CICA is a government funded scheme that provides victims with the opportunity to secure compensation helping them to move forward with their life.
To qualify, the criminal injury must have happened in Great Britain (Scotland, Wales or England) and must also be serious enough to qualify for the minimum tariff award of £1,000. In addition, you need a crime reference number from the police, and you must not have contributed to the incident in any way. For example, if you were injured in a fight, if you started the fight or goaded your attacker in any way you may not qualify for compensation.
If you are the spouse, partner, parent, or child of a person who died as a result of a criminal injury, you may also be able to claim compensation for the loss of your loved as well as a payment to compensate you for funeral expenses.
Farleys has a team of specialist criminal injuries compensation solicitors who take criminal injury claim cases on a no win no fee basis. We have offices across Lancashire and in Manchester and we are happy to provide an initial consultation to help you determine whether or not you qualify for compensation from CICA.
Criminal injury claims can be complicated and CICA often takes a year or more to determine the amount of compensation. Having a solicitor who specialises in criminal injuries claims and can help you fill out the compensation application forms accurately and clearly so you provide all the right information can ensure that your claim is settled as quickly and efficiently as possible.
For an initial chat about your case, please call 0845 287 0939. Alternatively, you can get in touch by email or use the online chat below and a member of the team will get in touch with you.