18 February 2013 Last updated at 07:03 ET

Greater Manchester Police criticised over 999 call death

Greater Manchester Police's response to a 999 call by a mother concerned about her daughter, who was later found dead, was "inadequate".

Officers found Georgina Beevers, 37, dead at her home in Bredbury, Stockport, on 30 January 2012, and her four-year-old son with the body.

The discovery was made more than 12 hours after the 999 call.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said there was "flawed decision making".

The investigation found the call, which referred to an attempted overdose, should have received an urgent response but the priority level was incorrectly downgraded by a radio operator.

'Terribly tragic'

The officer assigned to it more than three hours later visited the house but left after getting no response and failing to realise the suicide risk as he had not read the log properly. He had a case to answer for misconduct, the IPCC investigation found.

Another officer visited the house the following morning and found the body after being let in by the child.

An inquest later recorded a verdict of misadventure.

The radio operator who requested the call be downgraded has received "management action", the IPCC said.

IPCC Commissioner Naseem Malik said: "This was a terribly tragic incident. Ms Beevers was vulnerable and in a distressed state.

"Her mother attempted to contact social services and then turned to Greater Manchester Police for help.

"This was an incident that needed a priority response. It didn't get one due to flawed decision making and a lack of diligence.

"We cannot know what difference a prompter response would have made. All I can hope is that those involved will learn lessons from this tragedy."

A police spokesman said the force was continuing to support Ms Beever's family and would respond positively to the coroner's verdict.