Force admits 'missed opportunities' in murdered wife case

A police force admitted it “missed opportunities” in the case of a woman murdered by her husband – but says it has improved how it tackles coercive control.

Angela Mittal, 41, was killed by Laurens Brand at their home in Shinfield, Berkshire, on Boxing Day 2018, days after she spoke to a solicitor about getting a divorce.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) admitted officers did not realise that Ms Mittal was reporting coercive control to them but a jury found those failings did not contribute to her death.

TVP said it has made various improvements in practice around domestic abuse and coercive control since Ms Mittal’s murder.

Her family said she was a “kind and generous person who truly lived life to the fullest”.

She called police on 29 November 2018 after Brand punched her, and first saw a solicitor to discuss a divorce on 3 December.

Brand routinely went through Ms Mittal’s messages and showed "all the hallmarks" of controlling behaviour.

He was jailed for 16 years and eight months at Reading Crown Court in May 2019.

An inquest heard officers who spoke to Ms Mittal following her assault did not recognise that she was reporting coercive control and did not record the assault or coercive control.

The senior officer who signed off the risk assessment form relating to Ms Mittal’s case accepted they did not fully review it.

The inquest, held at Reading Coroner’s Court, also heard that the risk posed to Ms Mittal should have been graded higher than it was.

Ch Supt Felicity Parker, of TVP, said: “It is clear in this case that there were missed opportunities, in that there should have been greater action over the coercive control elements of the case.

"Additionally the assault on Ms Mittal should have been recorded as a crime.”

She said bespoke and specialist training is now given to contact management staff around coercive control and domestic abuse.

“This allows officers to then attend incidents with a greater and more detailed picture of the circumstances behind the reported incident,” Ms Parker added.

“Further changes have also been implemented, around managing risk, with greater scrutiny of risk, and scrutiny of crime recording.”

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