Police failed woman who killed herself in Blackburn cell, inquest finds

Campaigners say Kelly Hartigan-Burns was treated with reckless indifference' after her arrest in 2016

Police officers failed a vulnerable and suicidal woman after arresting her and putting her in a police cell where she killed herself, an inquest jury has found.

Kelly Hartigan-Burns, 35, died in December 2016 after she was treated with reckless indifference", campaigners say, by police in Blackburn. She had been arrested after members of the public spotted her late at night walking in and out of traffic in her pyjamas saying she wanted to die.

In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.