This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/10/police-scotland-apologises-bannockburn-crash-lamara-bell-john-yuill

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Police Scotland apologises for 'failing' families of Lamara Bell and John Yuill Police Scotland apologises for ‘failing’ families of Lamara Bell and John Yuill
(34 minutes later)
The head of Police Scotland has apologised after a seriously injured woman lay undiscovered next to her dead boyfriend in their car for three days in central Scotland because the force failed to respond to an earlier report of a motorway crash.The head of Police Scotland has apologised after a seriously injured woman lay undiscovered next to her dead boyfriend in their car for three days in central Scotland because the force failed to respond to an earlier report of a motorway crash.
Ch Const Sir Stephen House said on Friday he had apologised to the families of John Yuill, 28, and his girlfriend Lamara Bell, 25, who were discovered in a blue Renault Clio in a wooded area beside the M9 motorway on Wednesday morning. Ch Const Sir Stephen House said on Friday he had apologised to the families of John Yuill, 28, and his girlfriend, Lamara Bell, 25, who were discovered in a blue Renault Clio in a wooded area beside the M9 motorway on Wednesday morning.
Related: Police failure to respond may have left couple in car crash for daysRelated: Police failure to respond may have left couple in car crash for days
Yuill was pronounced dead at the scene, while Bell was taken to Queen Elizabeth University hospital in Glasgow, where her condition is described as very serious. Family members have confirmed that she has been placed in a medically induced coma after suffering broken bones and kidney damage as a result of dehydration.Yuill was pronounced dead at the scene, while Bell was taken to Queen Elizabeth University hospital in Glasgow, where her condition is described as very serious. Family members have confirmed that she has been placed in a medically induced coma after suffering broken bones and kidney damage as a result of dehydration.
The couple, both from the Falkirk area, had been reported missing by friends after they were last seen in the early hours of Sunday morning leaving the south shore of Loch Earn, Stirlingshire, following a weekend camping trip.The couple, both from the Falkirk area, had been reported missing by friends after they were last seen in the early hours of Sunday morning leaving the south shore of Loch Earn, Stirlingshire, following a weekend camping trip.
In a statement, House said: “Firstly, I want to apologise to the families of John Yuill and Lamara Bell and to the people of Scotland for this individual failure in our service. Everyone in Police Scotland feels this most profoundly.”In a statement, House said: “Firstly, I want to apologise to the families of John Yuill and Lamara Bell and to the people of Scotland for this individual failure in our service. Everyone in Police Scotland feels this most profoundly.”
He admitted that the police had “failed both families” and said he could understand the level of concern being raised.He admitted that the police had “failed both families” and said he could understand the level of concern being raised.
The statement continued: “However, I want to make clear to members of the public, and all those who have rightly expressed concern, that the mistakes made in not responding to the call from a member of the public on Sunday 5 July arose because the information received was not entered on to our systems.The statement continued: “However, I want to make clear to members of the public, and all those who have rightly expressed concern, that the mistakes made in not responding to the call from a member of the public on Sunday 5 July arose because the information received was not entered on to our systems.
“We know that just prior to 11.30am on Sunday 5 July, a member of the public contacted Police Scotland via the 101 system to report that they could see a vehicle down an embankment near the M9 slip road at Bannockburn.“We know that just prior to 11.30am on Sunday 5 July, a member of the public contacted Police Scotland via the 101 system to report that they could see a vehicle down an embankment near the M9 slip road at Bannockburn.
“All callers to 101 receive an electronic options menu. This call was answered within six seconds following that message by an experienced officer and the relevant details were given by the caller.“All callers to 101 receive an electronic options menu. This call was answered within six seconds following that message by an experienced officer and the relevant details were given by the caller.
“For reasons yet to be established this call was not entered on to our police systems and not actioned out to operational teams in the Stirling area to respond and trace the vehicle.”“For reasons yet to be established this call was not entered on to our police systems and not actioned out to operational teams in the Stirling area to respond and trace the vehicle.”
The police investigations and review commissioner (Pirc) has already launched an independent investigation into the circumstances of the incident. The police investigations and review commissioner has already launched an independent investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
A Pirc spokesperson confirmed on Thursday evening that it would focus on why the initial telephone call made to Police Scotland on Sunday, reporting a car was off the road, was not followed up. They said: “The commissioner’s investigation will also examine the robustness of Police Scotland’s missing person inquiry and look at why that enquiry was not linked with information received in the call.” A spokesperson for the commissioner confirmed on Thursday evening that the investigation would focus on why the initial telephone call made to Police Scotland on Sunday, reporting that a car was off the road, had not been followed up. They said: “The commissioner’s investigation will also examine the robustness of Police Scotland’s missing person inquiry and look at why that inquiry was not linked with information received in the call.”
Yuill, the co-owner of a caravan recycling business near Stirling and father of two young sons, was remembered by friends on Facebook as “a great guy and a brilliant dad”.Yuill, the co-owner of a caravan recycling business near Stirling and father of two young sons, was remembered by friends on Facebook as “a great guy and a brilliant dad”.
Describing her daughter as a “happy-go-lucky person”, Bell’s mother, Diane, said she does not yet know what the long-term impact of the ordeal will be on her daughter, who also has two children. Describing her daughter as a “happy-go-lucky person”, Bell’s mother, Diane, said she did not yet know what the long-term effect of the ordeal would be on her daughter, who also has two children.
Speaking to the Scottish Sun, she said: “She will be in hospital for a good few months. We don’t know what she is going to be like.”Speaking to the Scottish Sun, she said: “She will be in hospital for a good few months. We don’t know what she is going to be like.”
On Thursday, she spoke of her anger at the police’s handling of the case, as senior opposition politicians called on the Scottish government to ensure that the investigation into Police Scotland’s failing was robust.On Thursday, she spoke of her anger at the police’s handling of the case, as senior opposition politicians called on the Scottish government to ensure that the investigation into Police Scotland’s failing was robust.
John Yuill’s father, Gordon, said on Thursday: “The family just want to be left in peace now to grieve. Our thoughts are also with Lamara’s family at this time.” Yuill’s father, Gordon, said on Thursday: “The family just want to be left in peace now to grieve. Our thoughts are also with Lamara’s family at this time.”