The heartbroken brother of a woman who died hours after a traumatic police search has made an emotional plea for forces to "wind down" vehicle searches at night, calling the practice that left his sister's car window smashed in sub-zero temperatures "inhumane."
A Night That Ended in Tragedy
Michael, whose sister Amanda succumbed to hypothermia just hours after the distressing incident, is now campaigning for fundamental changes in how police conduct nighttime vehicle searches. The family's nightmare unfolded when Amanda's car was stopped by officers, who subsequently smashed a window to search the vehicle despite the freezing conditions.
"Leaving someone without a window in minus temperatures is inhumane," Michael told investigators, his voice heavy with grief. "There has to be a better way."
The Search That Crossed a Line
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is now examining the circumstances surrounding Amanda's death, which occurred shortly after the controversial search operation. According to the family's account, police broke the car window as part of their search procedure, then left Amanda to deal with the consequences as temperatures plummeted below freezing.
Michael's campaign highlights what he describes as a critical flaw in police protocol: the failure to consider basic humanity and common sense when conducting searches during extreme weather conditions.
A Brother's Crusade for Change
"If they have to do a search, they should wind it down at night," Michael insisted, proposing that unless there's an immediate threat to public safety, such intrusive searches should be postponed until daylight hours or conducted in a manner that doesn't leave vulnerable people exposed to dangerous conditions.
The case has raised serious questions about police discretion and whether officers should receive better training to assess situations holistically, rather than following procedures that might put individuals at risk.
Police Response and Ongoing Investigation
While the police force involved has expressed condolences to the family, they maintain that officers followed established procedures during the search. However, the IOPC investigation will determine whether those procedures need updating to prevent similar tragedies.
Michael's powerful statement to investigators continues to resonate: "There has to be a better way." His words now form the foundation of a growing campaign that could potentially change how police operations are conducted across the UK.
The family awaits the outcome of the investigation while mourning a loss they believe could have been prevented with more thoughtful policing practices.
