‘No indication’ of breach in police standards in case of Skegness toddler Bronson Battersby

‘No indication’ of a breach of policing standards is the conclusion of a six-month investigation into the deaths of a two-year-old boy and his father.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been looking into the ‘harrowing’ case of Bronson Battersby, who was found dead alongside his father, Kenneth, 60, at their home in Prince Alfred Avenue, Skegness on January 2.

Bronson was found between the legs of his father, who had suffered a suspected heart attack, after a social worker and the landlady of their basement flat gained entry at 4.19pm. Bronson's cause of death was confirmed as dehydration during an inquest earlier this year.

Lincolnshire Police has referred itself to the IOPC.

Regional Director for the IOPC, Derrick Campbell, said: “This is a harrowing case, and our sympathies go out to everyone affected by the sad deaths of Bronson and Kenneth. It was appropriate we carried out a thorough investigation into the relevant contact between police and social services.

“At the end of our six-month investigation, we have concluded that there was no indication any Lincolnshire Police officer or member of staff may have breached police professional standards.

“We have shared our report with Lincolnshire Police and the coroner to help inform future inquest proceedings.

“We have recently met with the families involved to explain our findings. We have also advised the local child safeguarding practice review. In order not to prejudice the future inquests, we won’t be in a position to issue our full findings until they are held.”

Deputy Chief Constable Julia Debenham said: “This is a tragic case and our thoughts continue to be with all of those who have been impacted.

“I am reassured that the independent investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has found that no Lincolnshire Police members of staff breached professional standards in the way we responded to this incident.

“We are awaiting the final outcome of a Child Safeguarding Practice Review, which looks at the involvement of all agencies involved and the way they worked together, and once we have the findings of that we will be in a position to comment further.”