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Jeanette Goodwin murder: Essex Police response 'flawed' Jeanette Goodwin murder: Essex Police response 'inadequate'
(about 4 hours later)
A woman who was killed by her ex-partner was not given an "essential emergency response" on the day of her murder, the police watchdog has found. A woman who was killed by her former partner received an "inadequate response" from Essex Police on the day of her murder, a watchdog has found.
Jeanette Goodwin was stabbed 30 times by Martin Bunch, 44, in front of her husband at her home in Southend, Essex.Jeanette Goodwin was stabbed 30 times by Martin Bunch, 44, in front of her husband at her home in Southend, Essex.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found she made a call to police hours before the attack. The Independent Police Complaints Commission found she called police before the attack, but they did not recognise "urgent action" was needed.
The IPCC said the system was "badly flawed" but Essex Police had taken her reports of domestic violence seriously. Essex Police said it had taken steps to improve.
Bunch was jailed for life with a minimum term of 27 years after he was convicted at Chelmsford Crown Court in August. Panic alarm
Essex Police said it had taken steps to improve the areas where there were shortcomings. Mrs Goodwin, 47, a mother of three, made seven reports of harassment and domestic violence by Bunch to police from January 2011 up until her death on 24 July of that year.
'Lifetime' without mother Bunch was jailed for life with a minimum term of 27 years after he was convicted of murder at Chelmsford Crown Court in August 2012.
Bunch, of Southchurch Road in Southend, and Mrs Goodwin had had an affair for a number of years which was ended by her. href="http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/Documents/investigation_commissioner_reports/inv_rep_goodwin.pdf" >The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) report said Essex Police took Mrs Goodwin's reports of domestic violence "seriously from the outset" to "effectively protect" her.
Mrs Goodwin, 47, a mother of three, made seven reports to police from January 2011 of harassment and domestic violence by Mr Bunch, prior to her death. The investigation found the force put Bunch before the courts on several occasions, strongly urging his remand in custody on the basis it was the only way to effectively protect Mrs Goodwin.
In a statement Mrs Goodwin's family said: "The family are pleased that the IPCC report has highlighted areas of procedures that could have been better on the day of Jeanette's death. However, on the day of her murder the report said there was "a breakdown of communication, a lack of resources and a failure to appropriately prioritise the case".
"Although this will not bring back our dearest Jeanette, we are satisfied that these procedures have been improved, ensuring that victims of domestic violence can now be treated as they should, as a priority. Mrs Goodwin's fear was not noted on the police log and background or intelligence checks were not made, to inform the police response.
"Jeanette's three children have a lifetime of growing up without their mother seeing them progress, marry, and settle down with their own families. The IPCC said too few supervisory staff in the control room and limited officer resources in the Southend area on a busy day, "led to the call not being treated as urgent".
"Our lives are never going to be the same again." There was no further police contact with Mrs Goodwin until five hours after the phone call when her home panic alarm was activated.
Officers swiftly attended, the report states, and found her with multiple stab wounds.
'Badly flawed'
IPCC Commissioner Rachel Cerfontyne said the inadequate police response on the day of the murder contrasted with the concerted effort to protect Mrs Goodwin.
"The system in place then was badly flawed, not utilising intelligence checks to inform decision-making when prioritising incidents," she added.
The fact Bunch was near Mrs Goodwin's home "required immediate and urgent action to try and arrest him".
Deputy Chief Constable Derek Benson said the IPCC found the work of four members of police staff and one acting police sergeant "did not amount to misconduct".
He said the call from Mrs Goodwin "should have been treated more seriously".
Essex Police said it had carried out a review of its domestic abuse policy to ensure that appropriate checks were completed and accurately recorded on the log.
The IPCC has investigated the way Essex Police has handled domestic abuse cases three times since 2010.
In a statement, Mrs Goodwin's family said: "The family are pleased that the IPCC report has highlighted areas of procedures that could have been better on the day of Jeanette's death.
"Although this will not bring back our dearest Jeanette, we are satisfied that these procedures have been improved, ensuring that victims of domestic violence can now be treated as they should, as a priority."