999 call of murdered Leeds mum handled "appropriately" says police watchdog

The police watchdog has found that call handlers and officers "acted appropriately" in the days before Sinead Wooding's murder.

The 26-year-old mum from Leeds was murdered by her husband, 27-year-old Akshar Ali, in May 2017.

The IOPC looked into West Yorkshire Police’s response to a 999 call, made by Sinead, in the days before she was killed.

She called the force on 10th May 2017 to report receiving malicious calls and texts from her husband. She was given advice by the call-handler.

Another call-handler contacted Sinead approximately an hour later, and confirmed she was at home and was safe and well. Police visited her home the following day, in line with force policy, but she wasn’t at the address and did not answer calls to her mobile phone.

On 13 May officers went to her home and were told by Akshar Ali that she wasn’t there, and regularly went missing for days at a time. He also called West Yorkshire Police the following day to say he was trying to contact Sinead but couldn’t reach her.

Her body was found by joggers at Alwoodley Crags on the morning of 14th May and Ali was charged with her murder.

IOPC Regional Director Miranda Biddle said: “Anyone who followed the trial of Akshar Ali cannot fail to have been moved by the senseless brutality of Sinead Wooding’s death, and our thoughts are with her family and friends.

“In analysing all the available evidence, including detailed witness statements from all those involved, our investigation concluded that West Yorkshire Police followed all policies and procedures appropriate to the circumstances at the time and did not cause or contribute to Ms Wooding’s death."