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Baggott should apologise: McCrea 'Lessons to be learned' - Baggott
(about 4 hours later)
The police force formerly led by PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott faces an inquiry into the death of a woman and her daughter. PSNI chief constable Matt Baggott has said the death of a woman and her daughter had saddened his former colleagues at Leicestershire police.
Fiona Pilkington killed herself and her daughter Francesca Hardwick in 2007 after repeatedly asking for help with bullying and anti-social behaviour.Fiona Pilkington killed herself and her daughter Francesca Hardwick in 2007 after repeatedly asking for help with bullying and anti-social behaviour.
On Monday an inquest jury found that Leicestershire police and two councils were partly to blame for the deaths. On Monday, an inquest jury found that Leicestershire police and two councils were partly to blame for the deaths.
NI Policing Board member Basil McCrea said Mr Baggott should apologise. Mr Baggott said there were "lessons to be learned".
The Ulster Unionist MLA said he would ask the chief constable about the incident at the next meeting of the Policing Board. "Police officers are there to protect people and everybody will be feeling hugely saddened that we were unable to do so," he said.
"I would expect him to make a statement on it," said Mr McCrea. Fiona Pilkington killed herself and her daughter Francecca Hardwick
"I would expect him to offer his own personal apologies given that he was responsible, and I would expect him to tell us what lessons have been learned so that it does not happen in Northern Ireland." Mr Baggott stopped short of the personal apology called for by Northern Ireland Policing Board member Basil McCrea.
"It raises some big questions about how you can manage individual family needs amongst a backdrop of a significant call for police resources over a period of time," said Mr Baggott.
"It raises questions over the way in which the agencies - the health, the caring agencies, social services - actually understand what is happening within a family when the complexity isn't always apparent on the surface."
Mr Baggott led Leicestershire police from 2002 until this year.Mr Baggott led Leicestershire police from 2002 until this year.
He was not called to give evidence at the inquest at Loughborough Town Hall.He was not called to give evidence at the inquest at Loughborough Town Hall.
TragedyTragedy
Last week he said the the effectiveness of neighbourhood policing in Leicester should not be judged by one tragedy.Last week he said the the effectiveness of neighbourhood policing in Leicester should not be judged by one tragedy.
"There has been some enormous progress made over the last few years in delivering very consistent promises, a good street presence and dealing with anti-social behaviour and I don't think neighbourhood policing should be judged by a tragedy," he said."There has been some enormous progress made over the last few years in delivering very consistent promises, a good street presence and dealing with anti-social behaviour and I don't think neighbourhood policing should be judged by a tragedy," he said.
It's an exception but it's something that should never have happened and I think everyone feels for the despair that Fiona Pilkington must have been suffering Alan JohnsonHome secretary
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), England's police watchdog, is to inquire into why more was not done to help Fiona Pilkington and her family.The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), England's police watchdog, is to inquire into why more was not done to help Fiona Pilkington and her family.
The police were called 33 times in seven years as Ms Pilkington and her daughter were subjected to abuse, vandalism and even violence from local youths.The police were called 33 times in seven years as Ms Pilkington and her daughter were subjected to abuse, vandalism and even violence from local youths.
Fiona Pilkington killed herself and her daughter Francecca Hardwick
IPCC Commissioner Amerdeep Somal said it was "an extremely distressing case".IPCC Commissioner Amerdeep Somal said it was "an extremely distressing case".
She added: "It appears to be a case where sustained anti-social behaviour in a neighbourhood over a period of several years has contributed to a truly horrific and tragic outcome."She added: "It appears to be a case where sustained anti-social behaviour in a neighbourhood over a period of several years has contributed to a truly horrific and tragic outcome."
She said the IPCC would be examining "how seriously the police responded to her calls for help, whether the action was appropriate and what actions they did or did not take".She said the IPCC would be examining "how seriously the police responded to her calls for help, whether the action was appropriate and what actions they did or did not take".
LessonsLessons
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said the police and councils had "some hard lessons" to learn.Home Secretary Alan Johnson said the police and councils had "some hard lessons" to learn.
He said: "This is a tragedy. It's an exception but it's something that should never have happened and I think everyone feels for the despair that Fiona Pilkington must have been suffering.He said: "This is a tragedy. It's an exception but it's something that should never have happened and I think everyone feels for the despair that Fiona Pilkington must have been suffering.
"What we have to do is ensure there's no excuses, ensure that the lessons are learned and I'm sure Leicestershire police are already learning those lessons - this happened in 2007 - and we use this terrible tragedy to ensure we do not tolerate anti-social behaviour - we tackle it.""What we have to do is ensure there's no excuses, ensure that the lessons are learned and I'm sure Leicestershire police are already learning those lessons - this happened in 2007 - and we use this terrible tragedy to ensure we do not tolerate anti-social behaviour - we tackle it."
The inquest heard that Ms Pilkington, her disabled daughter and her son, Anthony, a severe dyslexic, suffered more than 10 years of abuse from a gang of teenagers living on their street.The inquest heard that Ms Pilkington, her disabled daughter and her son, Anthony, a severe dyslexic, suffered more than 10 years of abuse from a gang of teenagers living on their street.
Ms Pilkington is believed to have poured the contents of a 10-litre can of petrol over clothes in the back seat of the car, and set them alight.Ms Pilkington is believed to have poured the contents of a 10-litre can of petrol over clothes in the back seat of the car, and set them alight.
The jury found that Ms Pilkington killed herself and her daughter "due to the stress and anxiety regarding her daughter's future, and ongoing anti-social behaviour".The jury found that Ms Pilkington killed herself and her daughter "due to the stress and anxiety regarding her daughter's future, and ongoing anti-social behaviour".
The jury foreman said the police's response had had an impact on Ms Pilkington's decision to unlawfully kill her daughter and commit suicide.The jury foreman said the police's response had had an impact on Ms Pilkington's decision to unlawfully kill her daughter and commit suicide.
He added: "Calls were not linked or prioritised."He added: "Calls were not linked or prioritised."
The jury also highlighted lack of action by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and Leicestershire County Council.The jury also highlighted lack of action by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and Leicestershire County Council.