A GWENT Police control room operator downgraded a call relating to a missing woman who was later found dead, despite police knowing she was trying to escape a violent partner.

23-year-old Bobbie Stokoe was killed by her partner Darryl Smith at their home in Belle Vue Close, Trevethin in overnight between August 14 and 15 last year.

Her body was found on later rolled up in a carpet on wasteland near their home on August 19.

Despite six calls being made to police from a women's refuge worker, concerned for Miss Stokoe's welfare, the call was downgraded from a priority case by a force control room operator.

This matter was investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission who found that even though the actions of the police could not have saved her life, the way the call was handled had fallen below the standards expected.

Speaking exclusively to the Argus, Miss Stokoe's mother Diane Enos, 52, said: "I know that if they handled the call differently, they still would not have been able to save Bobbie, but they should take all calls like that more seriously.

"I just want to make sure that this doesn't happen again and someone could have been saved if they graded the call properly."

The IPCC investigation revealed that Darryl Smith was checked out on the Police National Computer and he was found to have warning markers against his name for drugs and suicidal tendencies, but no other markers.

The investigation report says a detailed search of Smith revealed he had previous convictions for domestic violence, but it would not be considered feasible for control room staff to undertake this detailed research.

Smith's record from 1988 showed he had seven previous convictions, which include being jailed for assault on ex-partners and he had also been arrested for false imprisonment and rape involving an ex-partner, but the allegations were withdrawn.

Gwent Police intelligence systems showed that Miss Stokoe, originally from Bettws, had been a victim of domestic violence by other partners.

It also showed how when the call came in on August 17 from the refuge worker, telling police Miss Stokoe had been staying at a refuge and she may have returned to Smith , the call was graded a 'priority', meaning police would attend within 60 minutes.

However, when the call was passed from the call handler to the force control room, the control room operator re-grades the call to 'schedulded', which means an appointment is made within 48 hours for a car to attend, because checks on the address revealed no recent police involvement.

It wasn’t until the call was reviewed 15 hours later on August 18, when there was still no sign of Miss Stokoe, that the call was put back up to a priority.

The report recommended that a training needs analysis is conducted in respect of call handlers and Force Control Room staff to ensure all staff have received training in the re-grading policy as well as specific training in dealing with 'concerns for welfare' calls.

* Darryl Smith died at Cardiff Prison on October 19 while on remand, charged with Miss Stokoe's murder. The inquest into his death is expected to take place next month.

Procedures reviewed

Tom Davies, IPCC Commissioner for Wales said: "It is apparent from the evidence that the police could not have prevented Bobby's death. It is clear she was murdered on the 15 or 16 August 2009, two days before the first call was received by Gwent Police expressing concerns about her welfare.

"However our investigation has shown that this call was not handled appropriately and lessons must be learned to ensure when a rapid response is required that may save a life in the future the same mistakes do not occur."

A spokesman for Gwent Police said: "There are lessons to be learnt regarding the grading of the police response and a general appreciation of issues involving welfare concerns and missing people.

Since the recommendations have been received Gwent Police has reviewed procedures and training has been delivered to relevant members of staff to ensure an improved service in the future.

The Chief Constable and his team of chief officers took personal responsibility to ensure the recommendations were actioned.

"The Deputy Chief Constable will be making arrangements to visit the family of Bobbie Stokoe to apologise for not meeting the high standards expected of us on this occasion."