IPCC criticises police protection

There were missed opportunities by Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire forces to protect John and Joan Stirland, who were found shot dead at their bungalow in the Lincolnshire village of Trusthorpe in August 2004, the Independent Police Complaints Commission found.

The watchdog said: "The report has concluded that the protection provided to Mr and Mrs Stirland by Nottinghamshire Police was below an acceptable level. They did not receive any professional advice on witness protection and their care was left to untrained officers."

Colin Gunn, 40, was found guilty of conspiring to murder the Stirlands in revenge for the murder in 2003 of Marvyn Bradshaw, who was shot dead by Mrs Stirland's son Michael O'Brien.

Gunn's 19-year-old nephew Jamie was in the same car as Bradshaw when he was shot.

The report said: "It is accepted that the protection afforded to them on the night of the shooting at their home was good and the advice to move house was also sound. However, it was ill-conceived to allow them to leave Nottingham when their destination was unknown.

"There is evidence that Joan Stirland was confused at the time and didn't know what to do. The police should have closely managed their movements at that vulnerable time by taking some form of structured action to reflect their vulnerability and provided a degree of immediate support and protection, eg by accompanying them to a hotel or place of refuge."

Following an attack at their home in a quiet suburb of Nottingham in September 2003, the Stirlands fled to Goole in East Yorkshire. Later, they travelled to Trusthorpe in Lincolnshire, where they were murdered in August 2004.

The report adds: "It is unacceptable that Nottinghamshire Police did not inform Humberside Police when the Stirlands moved into the area (East Yorkshire), yet they did inform the housing department. Likewise, their failure to advise Lincolnshire Police they had moved to Trusthorpe in December 2003 was unacceptable.

"There is no evidence of a proper risk assessment being carried out at the Trusthorpe address at any stage. A risk assessment would have included a visit to the premises and advice on suitability and security."