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Lancashire mother considers legal action over decade-long wait for answers following daughter's police custody death
Overview
The family of Kelly Hartigan-Burns, who died in a Blackburn police cell in December 2016, is considering legal action to challenge ongoing delays through a judicial review. An April 2022 inquest concluded that a failure by officers to communicate her suicide risk contributed to her death, and a former custody sergeant was subsequently found guilty of gross misconduct. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) stated it is finalising a review of additional evidence provided in late 2025.
Key points
- Kelly Hartigan-Burns was found unresponsive in a police cell in Blackburn, Lancashire, in December 2016 after being arrested following an alleged assault.
- An inquest jury in April 2022 found that the failure of officers to inform custody staff that she was a suicide risk contributed to her death.
- A former custody sergeant was found guilty of gross misconduct over his handling of her detention.
- The family's lawyer and mother, June Hartigan, are considering a judicial review to challenge the prolonged delays in the ongoing case.
- The IOPC stated it is nearing the completion of its review into additional evidence shared by Lancashire Constabulary in October 2025.