Police contact with abuse victim 'appropriate'

An investigation has found that police officers responded "appropriately" to reported concerns for a woman who later suffered catastrophic injuries inflicted by her family.

Ambreen Fatima Sheikh has been in a persistent vegetative state since 2015 after being forced to take medication and doused with a corrosive substance at her home in Huddersfield.

West Yorkshire Police carried out a welfare check on Ms Sheikh three weeks before she was admitted to hospital and reported she was fit, well and able to understand officers.

An Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) spokesperson said officers acted in line with the relevant policies though the force has since "invested heavily" in awareness training about honour-based abuse and forced marriage.

The IOPC also ruled officers acted in line with the relevant guidance and training in place in 2015.

During a trial in 2023, Leeds Crown Court heard Ms Sheikh's husband Asgar Sheikh and his parents Khalid and Shabnam forced her to take the anti-diabetes drug glimepiride, which caused a devastating brain injury from which she will never recover.

The now 39-year-old also suffered severe chemical burns after being doused in a substance, thought to be cleaning fluid.

The judge said during the trial she thought the police assessment prior to her injuries carried "little weight" as Ms Sheikh spoke limited English and her father-in-law was present throughout the visit.

But the IOPC said evidence it obtained shows that one officer spoke to Ms Sheikh in a room away from her family members.

IOPC regional director Emily Barry called it an "incredibly tragic incident" and said: "Our thoughts remain with Ms Sheikh, her loved ones and all those affected.

"While our investigation highlighted shortcomings in the information available to officers, I note that West Yorkshire Police now has guidance for officers carrying out welfare checks and a far more detailed policy on honour-based violence."

Ms Barry added the officer who spoke to Ms Sheikh was satisfied she could understand him and reported no signs of physical injury.

Ms Sheikh was brought to the UK from Pakistan following a 2014 arranged marriage and a witness said she was "intelligent, bright, ambitious and happy-go-lucky" before she moved to the UK.

There is also evidence she was a teacher in her home country.

Asgar Sheikh, 31, was jailed for seven years and nine months along with his parents Khalid, 55, and Shabnam, 52.

All three were found guilty of allowing a vulnerable adult to suffer physical harm.

Prosecutors said Ms Sheikh only survives by being fed through a tube and will eventually die as a consequence of what happened to her.

Asst Ch Con Damien Miller said: "West Yorkshire Police has worked hard in recent years to improve its safeguarding of vulnerable victims in domestic settings, including those from our minority communities."

He added: "We take a victim-led approach to deal with these challenging issues which respects the views of victims and witnesses, and provides the necessary support, confidentiality and protection from harm they may need."

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