Family told to call locksmith over mental health fears

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has criticized Norfolk Police for instructing a family to call a locksmith when raising concerns about their mentally ill son. On August 6, 2025, Hobie Harrison's parents called the force after he stopped responding to them. He was discovered dead the next day. The IOPC stated that the 101 call handlers should have referred the family to mental health services, but instead recommended contacting a locksmith.

Norfolk Police acknowledged reviewing the findings, stating they had been adhering to their Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) policy, which restricts officer attendance at welfare calls to cases involving immediate risk to life. The IOPC argued that the call handlers should have probed deeper to assess Hobie's risk level and provided a better explanation to his parents regarding officer non-intervention under RCRP.

The family made a subsequent welfare check request the following day, which also resulted in officers arriving too late. The IOPC condemned Norfolk Police's response to the family's complaint, describing it as "unnecessary and insensitive." Hobie had previously threatened suicide, and his parents expressed doubts about whether intervention could have saved him.

The IOPC expressed concerns about Norfolk Police's understanding of the RCRP policy's risks. David Ford, the watchdog's director of oversight, urged the force to review whether organizational learnings are necessary. Norfolk Police declined further comment due to an upcoming inquest. Hobie suffered from schizophrenia and developmental trauma and had a history of drug use.

His family adopted him and noted his good spirits before his death. They last heard from him more than 24 hours before his body was found, leading them to contact the police.