Metropolitan Police failed to share vulnerability alert, contributing to Matthew Trickett’s death on bail

An inquest held at Berkshire Coroner’s Court concluded that the Metropolitan Police failed to pass on critical vulnerability information about Matthew Trickett, a private investigator and Home Office immigration officer, to Thames Valley Police. The omission occurred after Trickett attempted self‑harm while detained in a central London police station and was subsequently released on bail.

Inquest details reveal gaps in record‑keeping

Read Next in News London3 min read

Family of Hendon FC player Ezekiel Williams mourns death after arrests

Two Luton men have been charged with murder, a third arrested for assisting, while a GoFundMe campaign has raised over £17,000 for the family.

The Standard reported that Trickett was charged under the National Security Act 2023 on 12 May 2024 and bailed the following day by Westminster Magistrates’ Court. He was due to appear again in Crown Court but was found dead on 19 May 2024, five days before that date.

During his brief detention, Trickett told station staff he would not repeat self‑harm while in custody but hinted he might if released. The senior investigating officer, who spoke anonymously, said the Metropolitan Police believed he would be remanded, not bailed, and therefore did not flag his vulnerability on the Police National Computer.

I think they should have been told, I think Thames Valley Police should have been made aware of the wider circumstances of Matt’s detention and vulnerability there.

Senior investigating officer, as reported by the Standard

Related Borough Coverage3 min read

Two charged with murder of Hendon FC footballer Ezekiel Williams

Ezekiel Williams, 26, died in hospital from head injuries following an incident in Milton Keynes.

According to the same source, the officer explained that National Security Act case notes are kept on paper and must be manually uploaded. He said the team’s focus on a large operation involving eleven arrests meant the paper record was not entered promptly, preventing the vulnerability marker from appearing on the national database.

The coroner, Heidi Connor, asked whether Thames Valley Police should have been notified. The officer confirmed that standard procedure would have required an officer to log the encounter and pass the information directly, or via the central computer, had the vulnerability been recorded.

New safeguards introduced

In response to the case, National Security Act teams have rolled out a checklist that must be completed for every individual leaving custody. The checklist is designed to ensure that any identified vulnerability is communicated to the appropriate agency. The officer said the measure has already been shared with counter‑terrorism units in London and is being considered for wider adoption across the UK.

The Metropolitan Police indicated that oversight of custody releases has been tightened as a result of this and similar incidents. While the inquest continues, families of the deceased have been urged to seek further clarification from the forces involved.