Tragedy struck when Tamzin Hall, a 17-year-old autistic schoolgirl from england/south-west/%%UKNIP_ANCHOR_0%%/south-west/somerset/”>somerset/”>Somerset, was killed after leaping from a moving police car on the M5 last November. Her distraught mother insists authorities "desperately failed" her daughter, claiming she never got the right support or was truly listened to.
How Did Tamzin Escape Handcuffs in a Moving Police Car?
Tamzin had been arrested for assault and criminal damage and was being taken into custody when the shocking incident happened. An inquest revealed she managed to remove her handcuffs, climb from the Backback seat to the front passenger side, then opened the door and jumped out.
The police car had stopped on the northbound M5 between %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_1%% (J25) and %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_2%% (J24) just after 11pm. Tamzin ran across the road, climbed a crash barrier, and was fatally hit by a vehicle on the opposite southbound carriageway.
She was pronounced dead at the scene at 11.10pm after sustaining fatal head, neck, and chest injuries.
Mother Slams Police Handling: "She Was Desperately Failed"
Tamzin's mother, Amy Hall, told the %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_3%%: "Tamzin was desperately failed. She never got the right help, she never got listened to."
Ms Hall questions %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_4%%how her daughter managed to free herself and escape with two officers present. "My question is – how did she manage to get out of the handcuffs and out of the car with two police officers?" she said.
She believes that Tamzin, known to display high-risk behaviour, should have been transported in a police %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_5%%van, not a car. “Did they always need to call the police? Sometimes I think the %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_6%%way they handled talking to her made things worse," she added.
IOPC Investigates Police Conduct
Avon and Somerset Police have handed the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is now investigating the officers' actions, decision-making, and risk assessments during the incident.
The IOPC report revealed that Tamzin was handcuffed with her hands in front and seated next to an officer in the rear of the marked vehicle. It confirmed she removed her handcuffs en route to custody, then escaped the moving car and was struck on the motorway.
Tamzin's Life and Legacy
Diagnosed with autism and battling serious mental health issues, Tamzin's mother describes her as a loving, kind girl with a fantastic sense of humour. She adored cooking, loved birds, and had a passion for helping others.
Tamzin's father died of cancer when she was eight, which impacted her school life. She was later placed in a care home, which her mother says was the wrong environment for her.
Amy Hall paid tribute: "Tamzin was the kindest, most caring, loving girl ever… She was my world. She loved simple things, loved her family, and was chocolate mad."
She confessed she still struggles to cope with her daughter's death. "I will never ever get over it, she was taken far too young."
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