Arrest warrant delays revealed after Teesside toddler murder
Arrest warrant delays revealed after Teesside toddler murder
A man who murdered his partner's two-year-old daughter had an arrest warrant issued 18 months prior, which remained unexecuted until his later arrest.
Harrison Simpson, 22, was jailed this week after repeatedly attacking his partner's daughter, Isabelle Welsh, at her home in Teesside.
Simpson also sexually assaulted the toddler before her tragic death in September.
The outstanding warrant related to a breach of a non-molestation order issued against Simpson in March 2024.
The delay in executing his warrant has prompted a review of suspect management processes within the police force.
This review has led to several key changes, including improved visibility of outstanding warrants, a comprehensive data system to track these warrants and stringent oversight by a Superintendent-led governance group.
Daily reviews of high-risk warrants by senior management are now part of these reforms to prevent similar delays in the future.
A Cleveland Police statement said:
"In March 2024, Harrison Simpson was charged with breaching a non-molestation order. A warrant for his arrest was issued that same month after he failed to appear at court.
"Multiple enquiries and arrest attempts were carried out to try to locate and arrest him but these proved unsuccessful.
"In line with openness and transparency, we informed Isabelle's family of the circumstances surrounding the outstanding warrant early on in the investigation.
"We recognise the time Simpson had an outstanding arrest warrant is far from adequate. A review of this was immediately conducted upon his arrest for murder.
"This review, along with a determination to continually improve our processes around suspect management, has led to a number of recent changes, such as ongoing improved visibility across the force around outstanding warrants, a comprehensive data system which tracks all outstanding warrants, and stringent oversight including a governance group led by a Superintendent.
"Those outstanding warrants posing the highest risk are reviewed daily by senior management."