Police under scrutiny after death of man from Westhoughton

Bradley Lomax, from Westhoughton, was struck by a train on the line between Daisy Hill railway station and Hindley railway station on March 24 of last year.

On Monday (March 18), almost a year later, Bolton Coroner's Court heard how GMP is set to be scrutinised for its role in the death of the 30-year-old man and in particular its response to a report of a missing person. Already there is an investigation by the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) although its outcome is unknown.

Alexander Frodsham, the assistant coroner, said there is to be an Article Two inquest to look at more issues than a non-Article Two inquest.

He said: "Article Two is engaged as I have reason to suspect GMP knew or ought to have known of a risk to Mr Lomax's life and it is arguable they failed to take steps within the scope of their powers to avoid the risk."

The inquest is to be before a jury on the basis there is reason to suspect the incident was the result of "an act" or "an omission" by the police.

Alexander Williams, representing GMP, said there was no objection from the force to the use of Article Two under the European Convention on Human Rights or to the use of a jury under the Coroners and Justice Act.

The Coroners and Justice Act reads: "An inquest into a death must be held with a jury if the senior coroner has reason to suspect the death resulted from an act or an omission of a police officer, or a member of a service police force, in the purported execution of the officer's or member's duty as such."

Mr Frodsham adjourned the inquest until a date to be determined. He apologised to Mr Lomax's parents saying it might not be until next year.

A spokesperson for GMP and and a spokesperson for the IOPC said they were unable to comment until the conclusion of the inquest.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.