The family of a man who killed himself three years ago has criticised South Wales Police for still not having implemented the recommended force-wide measures which might have helped save his life. In October 2019, dad-of-five John White wrote goodbye notes to his loved ones before making his way to a bridge near his home in Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taf.
There the 43-year-old, who'd suffered with mental health problems, was spotted looking agitated by passersby who, fearing for his safety, called the police. Unbeknownst to them John had also dialled 999 - but, despite a lengthy discussion with a group of officers who'd arrived at the scene, he couldn't be dissuaded from hanging himself.
However, because none of the officers were carrying any kind of knife or blade capable of slicing through the ligature John had tied around his neck, a number of minutes passed before they could cut him down. One officer even reportedly had to resort to knocking on the doors of nearby houses to ask if anyone had anything sharp he could use, before a further colleague finally arrived with something suitable.
