A YOUNG mother who committed suicide after allegedly being the victim of domestic violence was ‘abandoned’ by police, her family says.
Kiena Dawes left her nine-month-old daughter with a friend hours before she was murdered on the railway in Garstang, Lancashire.
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The tragedy happened less than 14 days after she was reportedly the victim of a serious attack.
Friends and family launched a desperate search for the 23-year-old after she disappeared on July 22.
Her brother Kynan, 29, told… Lancashire Live the “bubbly” and “wonderful” mother had simply wanted a “happy life”.
And he published horrific photos of Kiena with blood running down her face. He claimed his sister was attacked even after officers from… Lancashire Constabulary panic alarms in her house.
She had initially gone to the police for help five weeks earlier after allegations that she had been attacked multiple times.
The force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for their contact with Kiena prior to her death.
Kynan, a builder from Blackpoolsaid: “The police have abandoned my sister. They haven’t done enough. The chief of detectives is going to go through everything with a toothpick.
“They’re going to find out why nothing happened, and why it got to the point where she felt like she wasn’t being looked after by the service, which she should be, and decided to take her life.
“She had panic alarms in her house and a panic alarm around her neck.”
He said Kiena left a suicide note on her phone, which he did not want to make public.
“She was very, very loved. She never said a bad word about anyone. She just wanted to live a happy life,” he said.
“The girl is dead now, but it should have gone to the Crown Prosecution Service ages ago. She didn’t want to live the life she lived, so she ended it.’
Kiena’s death is not treated as suspicious by British transport police.
A spokesperson for Lancashire Constabulary said: “First of all, our thoughts are with Kiena’s loved ones at this difficult time.
“We have referred us to the IOPC regarding the contact we had with Kiena before her death.
“Therefore, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
A 28-year-old man from Fleetwood has been arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm and has been released on bail pending investigation.
- The Samaritans can be reached day and night on the toll-free number 116 123
Don’t suffer alone
Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Contact charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- Call 999 if you are in danger.
- Familiarize yourself with the silent solution, report abuse without answering the phone, but choose “55” instead.
- Always keep some cash with you, including change for a pay phone or bus ticket.
- If you suspect your partner is going to attack you, try moving to a less risky part of the house, such as where there is a way out and access to a phone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, which are likely to have knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you could get trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you could be locked in a closet or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6-8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid offers a live chat service – available on weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm and on weekends from 10 am to 6 pm.
You can also call the free 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.