Police Ombudsman Critiques Investigation of Katie Simpson

The Police Ombudsman has concluded that the investigation into the death of 21-year-old Katie Simpson was 'flawed' and failed her family. Katie died in August 2020 after being driven to the hospital by Jonathan Creswell, who later faced murder charges. The report criticized the police for prematurely treating her death as a suicide, despite numerous warnings about Creswell's controlling behavior and a history of domestic violence. It noted that officers disregarded crucial intelligence that could have changed the investigation's direction. Disciplinary actions have been initiated against three officers involved, and new complaints regarding potential misconduct have emerged. The Ombudsman emphasized a significant lack of investigative rigor, which contributed to the mishandling of evidence and the overall case.