Police 'called repeatedly' before woman found dead

Social workers tried "repeatedly and persistently" to get help from police to gain access to the home of a Chester woman in the hours before she was found dead.

The body of Lisa Taylor-Penny, 63, was discovered at her home on July 11 2025, by police almost seven hours after concerns for her welfare were raised.

In a recent report, coroner Elizabeth Wheeler explained that the national Right Care Right Person (RCRP) guidelines put in place to ensure that the police are the right service to respond were treated in a "very rigid manner".

Cheshire Police said it was reviewing the coroner's report.

The lack of decision from Cheshire Police resulted in social workers and carers calling other emergency services to try to gain access to Ms Taylor-Penny's home.

The coroner, who heard that Ms Taylor-Penny had been seen alive the day before, said that by 20:00 BST a police officer made an "appropriate decision" to enter the home.

"Carers and social workers from the local authority had attended outside her house for hours throughout which they were repeatedly and persistently calling other emergency services to try and obtain access and help," Wheeler said in her report to prevent future deaths.

In the report, which has been sent to Cheshire Police, Wheeler raised concerns specifically about the RCRP guidelines, which were adopted nationally in 2023.

"RCRP is being implemented in a very rigid manner, suggesting that call handlers may be using it as 'tramlines not guidelines'," she wrote.

"I am concerned that it does not leave sufficient scope for call handlers to escalate calls for a senior member of staff to consider exercising professional judgment."

She added that this was a particular issue where professionals who were familiar with the guidelines were indicating that they needed police assistance and were "expressing a concern for life and limb".

The guidelines, first developed by Humberside Police in 2019, have been rolled out across England and Wales.

According to the national policing website for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, RCRP works on the premise that not all mental health related incidents need police intervention and that other services may be "more appropriate".

Health and social care staff are deemed to have relevant experience and training to provide support in some instances.

Police services are considered the "most appropriate service" when there is immediate risk to life or immediate risk of serious harm.

The national policing service added that the aim was to get those involved the "right help as soon as possible", as well as to prevent further distress and to allow police to focus on preventing crime, "protecting life and property" and keeping public order.

Ms Taylor-Penny had a 'long-standing history' of mental health problems and the death of her daughter in September 2024 had led to a deterioration in her mood.

During the inquest, the coroner found that Ms Taylor-Penny had previously discussed feeling suicidal with healthcare professionals, but that she had denied any intention to take her own life.

Toxicology results showed that she did not have fatal levels of any drug or other substance in her system.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: "A Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths has been received by Cheshire Constabulary and is currently being reviewed.

"Therefore, it is inappropriate for us to comment further at this time."

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