Trainee West Yorkshire Police officer bullied before suicide, inquest told

A trainee police officer suffered bullying and racism before his death, his father told an inquest.

Anugrah Abraham, 21, from Bury, Greater Manchester, feared he would lose his job and suffered nightmares of his station sergeant sitting on his chest strangling him, Rochdale Coroners Court heard.

The claims, made by his father Amar Abraham at the hearing, were not accepted by West Yorkshire Police, the force’s lawyer said.

He was struggling under the pressure of working as a trainee PC and also university work doing a degree apprenticeship with the force, the court heard.

But his father claimed he was also being bullied and suffered racism.

He said his son was born in Delhi, the youngest of three with two older sisters, and the family came to live in the UK in 2003.

He applied to join the police in October 2021 but problems started after April 2022 when he was posted to Halifax police station.

Wiping away tears, Mr Abraham said: “He mentioned there is bullying and racism culture there, ‘My sergeant used to bully me a lot, even if I do correct’. He was completely lost, really.

“We loved him so much. The last days before he took his own life he mentioned, ‘I can’t take it, so much pressure on me. There’s no support from anywhere’.”

Senior Coroner for Manchester North, Joanne Kearsley, asked Mr Abraham: “Do you think Anu understood how difficult it might be working and doing a degree at the same time?”

Mr Abraham said, “initially” his son was confident but admitted he was “fearful” of his son joining the force, adding: “It’s a very challenging job.”

His father added: “He always said 'nobody came to me and said, ‘well done boy’'. He was always criticised.

“He said, 'they put me on another management plan' to sack him. He was under a lot of pressure and fearful.”

Ms Kearsley said records showed officers had on occasion told the young recruit he had done a good job.

And GP records showed Mr Abraham visited his doctor in June 2022 suffering low moods, stress and anxiety, but did not identify any “triggers” for his feelings.

'I think he was scared'

Shortly before his death, the trainee officer was given two weeks' study leave and went with friends to Amsterdam while he was off.

Before he went his sergeant had told him he needed a further development and management plan.

By March 2023 he had been unhappy for six months since being posted to Halifax, the inquest heard, and he told his father he was suffering nightmares.

Mr Abraham said: “He felt that his sergeant was the weight sitting on his chest trying to strangle him. I think he was so scared. I don’t know what was going on in the police station.”

He advised his son to find another job before leaving the force and on 3 March last year, one day before he was due back in work, he spent time applying for jobs then left the family home.

He was found dead in woodland nearby the next day.

Hugh Davies, representing West Yorkshire Police, listed the support the young officer had received, including from his sergeant and colleagues and said the reason he was on a development plan was to support him.

He also had an assessor and a mentor and was referred to occupational health as well as a counsellor.

Mr Davies said while in the force his dyslexia was spotted for the first time and he received help with that.

Mr Davies said: “Some of his friends in the police thought they got the impression the family would be disappointed if he did not finish his degree?”

“No,” replied Mr Abraham.

The inquest, scheduled to last three weeks, continues.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.