Police watchdog criticises Norfolk force after family told to call locksmith
The Independent Office for Police Conduct criticised Norfolk Police after call handlers advised a family with mental health concerns to contact a locksmith instead of requesting an officer welfare check in August 2025.
Call handlers gave incorrect advice
On 6 August 2025, Hobie Harrison's parents contacted Norfolk Police because he did not answer their calls. The force's call handlers suggested the family ring a locksmith rather than referring them to mental health services. The Independent Office for Police Conduct stated that officers should have asked more probing questions about the risk level.
Officers found man dead
The parents requested another welfare check the following day and officers attended the flat in Norwich. They discovered the 30-year-old had died inside his home. Norfolk Police told the family that officers should not have attended either call under their current policy.
Force reviews conduct findings
The police watchdog noted that better explanations were needed regarding why officers were not sent. Norfolk Police said it is reviewing the findings after receiving a complaint in October 2025. The force claims it followed guidelines limiting attendance to cases involving immediate risk to life.
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