Natalie Ainsworth

PFD Report All Responded Ref: 2026-0162
Date of Report 17 March 2026
Coroner Janine Richards
Response Deadline est. 12 May 2026
All 1 response received · Deadline: 12 May 2026
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
Critical information about a vulnerable missing person's suicide threat was not passed to officers, resulting in an inaccurate police risk assessment and inappropriate response to her mental health history.
View full coroner's concerns
Natalie was a vulnerable missing person considered to be at medium risk. A call was made to Police on the 13th February 2025 at 15:01 hours expressing concern for Natalie's welfare and informing Police of a new address where she may be and informing Police that she had earlier threatened to take her own life. Although the control room recorded that information was passed on to the relevant officer, neither the Inspector who undertook an updated a risk assessment some two hours later, nor the Officer making enquiries, was aware that Natalie had threatened to take her own life. This important information was therefore not part of the risk assessment and not factored into subsequent Police actions, including in terms of whether to force entry to the property which was visited by the Police. Further the risk assessment carried out at 1704 hours was not a robust assessment of the risks which were known, or ought to have been known, by Police at that time. In particular the risk assessment fails to consider Natalie's vulnerability as a person with a history of mental health issues, self harm and substance abuse, records incorrectly that there is no indication that the person is likely to take their own life, records incorrectly that the person has no mental health issues, and records incorrectly that the person has not been involved in a violent incident prior to them disappearing. An accurate and robust assessment of risk is essential to ensure that the nature and extent of any Police response is proportionate, and resources deployed appropriately, particularly when welfare/safety concerns are raised, as they were in Natalie's case.
Responses
Durham Constabulary Police / Law Enforcement
12 May 2026
Action Taken
• The Force has reviewed processes around the recording of additional information received into the Force Control Room as part of a missing person investigation. • Changes have been made to how that information is recorded and shared with those engaged in enquiries to locate the missing person and to ensure that all information is readily available to those conducting reviews of risk assessments. • The Constabulary had already reviewed it’s Missing From Home Policy and Guidance and provided updated training to those conducting risk assessments. (AI summary)
View full response
Dear Ms Richards Durham Constabulary Response to the Regulation 28; Report To Prevent Future Deaths relating to the case of Natalie Louise AINSWORTH DOB 13/10/1995 issued at conclusion of the inquest on 13/03/2026 Since the issuing of the notice the Force have reviewed processes around the recording of additional information received into the Force Control Room as part of a missing person investigation. As a result, changes have been made to how that information is recorded and shared with those engaged in enguiries to locate the missing person and to ensure that all information is readily available to those conducting reviews of risk assessments. The new process is that the member of Control Room staff will now directly input the new or updated information into the missing person enquiry log whilst also making direct contact with the Investigating Officer to ensure that they are aware of the update’s presence in that log. The Control Room Incident (Storm) log will also reflect that this entry has been made, recording the detail of the message passed to the Investigating Officer alongside the time of the update. (For example Officer A was contacted by radio at 1300 hours and informed of the newly identified address, 123 High Street.) This will ensure that a clear record of the update is available to the Investigator and subsequent reviewing Supervisor. In the period between the death of Natalie AINSWORTH and the inquest conclusion the Constabulary had already reviewed it’s Missing From Home Policy and Guidance and provided updated training to those conducting risk assessments. This focused around the recognition vulnerability and other risk factors and determining the appropriate response as a result. DU CO RHAM NSTABULARY INAN h O h EMERGENCY ,U ' ALWAYS ■ ■ CALL 999

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Sent To
  • Durham Police
Response Status
Linked responses 1 of 1
56-Day Deadline 12 May 2026
All responses received
About PFD responses

Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.

Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On 14/02/2025 12:05an investigation was commenced into the death of Natalie Louise AINSWORTH 13/10/1995. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 13/03/2026 00:00. The conclusion of the inquest was that Natalie Louise Ainsworth, aged 29 years, was found deceased on the 13th of February 2025 at 37 Tweed Terrace, Stanley, County Durham.
Circumstances of the Death
Natalie Louise Ainsworth, aged 29 years, was found deceased on the 13th of February 2025 at 37 Tweed Terrace, Stanley, County Durham.

Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.