Senior Coroner Threatens Met Police with Jail Over Delayed Inquests
A senior coroner has blasted Metropolitan Police officers, warning of contempt of court charges and possible jail time if they keep ignoring court orders and dragging their feet on inquests.
Coroner Hits the Roof at East London Hearing
Senior Coroner Graeme Irvine unleashed his fury at the East London Coroner’s Court on Friday (April 11). He ordered a PC and a sergeant to appear in person after what he branded “the straw that broke the camel’s back” — the Met’s failure to follow court orders in the case of 23-year-old Anna Bellamy, found dead at her home in Upminster last October.
“Not Good Enough” – Furious Coroner Slams Police
Miss Bellamy’s death is believed to be a suicide. The coroner had commanded the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to examine her electronic devices for evidence of intent. Six months on, the devices hadn’t even left the police station.
“I found to my horror that the electronic devices have not moved from the police station,” Mr Irvine said. “They have not been assessed by anybody and there doesn’t appear to be any movement.”
“This is not good enough,” he fumed. “Unless the force can weave some sort of magic, her inquest will have to be delayed.”
PC Muhammad Asad Faces Jail Threat for Police Failures
Addressing PC Muhammad Asad, who admitted the blunder, Mr Irvine delivered a stark warning:
“If judicial orders are not followed, proceedings under the Contempt of Court Act can follow — and that can result in people going to prison. That doesn’t apply to your sergeant. It doesn’t apply to your duty inspector. It applies to you.”
The officer was spared a referral to the police watchdog but was ordered to write directly to Miss Bellamy’s grieving family to apologise for the failure.
“I’m grateful for your transparency and your candour,” the coroner said, but warned this failure is just one of many.
“I am that camel — and at the minute, I am very much heavily laden with lots of strands of straw of the failures of the Metropolitan Police Service to do their job.”
Mounting Pressure on the Met to Clean Up Its Act
Mr Irvine warned if things don’t improve, he will demand a police officer attend every inquest — a measure already employed by some coroners.
The coroner also threatened to summon the Met’s digital forensics team if they fail to speed up the analysis of Miss Bellamy’s devices.
He told the attending sergeant to communicate the gravity of the situation to the duty inspector and revealed he had raised his concerns with the borough commander.
Met Police Apologise but Dodge Systemic Criticism
Superintendent Neal Donohoe issued a formal apology:
“We deeply regret any distress this may have caused Anna’s family and offer our sincere apologies. I fully accept that we did not carry out the coroner’s request in a timely manner and have fallen short of the standards the public rightly expect.”
The Met confirmed steps are being taken to resolve the case swiftly. Yet, they sidestepped the coroner’s wider rebuke of systemic failings within the force’s case handling and evidence procedures.
Family Left Waiting as Met Blunders Delay Inquest
Miss Bellamy’s family, mired in months of painful uncertainty, now face further delays in the inquest. The coroner slammed the Met’s “inexcusable lack of action” for prolonging their agony.
“This court owes them answers,” Mr Irvine insisted. “And those answers must come quickly.”
