News

Why it took 19 hours after concern for welfare call

AN investigation is underway to find out why it took police 19 hours to respond to a ‘concern for welfare’, after an 85-year-old died in Bankstown.

A critical incident investigation has been declared to investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident, including all aspects of the response from NSW Police after the death of the man on Friday, July 5.
Police received a concern for welfare call from a member of the public about 5.40pm on Thursday, July 4. The following day, about 12.30pm, Bankstown Police responded to the call and attended a unit on William Street, Bankstown, where they found an 85-year-old man with shallow breathing.
Police commenced CPR but the man died at the scene.
The Critical Incident Investigation Team will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident, including all aspects of the response from NSW Police. That investigation will be subject to an independent review by the Professional Standards Command and overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said he understood the community’s concern with the 19 hours.
“We need to understand the workload of the command at the time … We need to understand what has taken place,” he said.
“My concern were the circumstances and the delay.
“If there’s things that we need to be doing, we’ll certainly be addressing it.”
He said that while the circumstances “are tragic”, the work of police at Bankstown “is first class”.
He said the Bankstown Police commander and his leadership team were already looking at their protocols for the assessment and management of risks associated with jobs in the command.