Learning recommendations for Cambridgeshire Constabulary following death of Bernadette Walker

Key findings

• No case to answer for misconduct for an officer in the missing person investigation.
• Supervision of medium risk missing person investigations requires clearer responsibility.
• Basic actions in missing person protocols were not consistently followed by officers.
• Key lines of enquiry involving communications data were inadequately pursued.
• Allegations of sexual abuse were not promptly recorded or investigated.
• Local procedures need to align more closely with national guidance on handling allegations during missing person investigations.
• There was a lack of guidance on how to handle sexual abuse allegations disclosed during missing investigations.
• Delays in communication data access applications contributed to investigation setbacks.

Outcome

Recommendations have been made to improve handling of missing person investigations, but the investigation concluded there was no misconduct by specific officers.