Police told family to call locksmith as son lay dead

Norfolk Police mishandled a call from the parents of a man who was later found dead in his home, an independent investigation has found. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) stated that the force should have flagged mental health services after the family contacted them with concerns about their son, Hobie Harrison.

Hobie, who had schizophrenia and developmental trauma, was under the care of the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust Community Mental Health Team. His parents, Mark and Roberta Harrison, said he also had a history of drug use. They adopted Hobie as a child and described him as being in "good spirits" the last time they saw him prior to his death.

In August 2025, the parents became worried when Hobie, who usually contacted them multiple times a day, had not spoken to them for over 24 hours. "The non-contact was just... it didn't happen. So, it was very, very unusual," Roberta said.

Upon visiting Hobie's flat, the Harrisons found they could not enter because his key was still in the lock on the inside of the door. "We were 100% certain he was in there and he wasn't responding, so we knew there was something seriously wrong," Mark stated.

Uncertain about their legal standing to force entry, they contacted Norfolk Police. They informed call handlers that their son had a history of self-harm and suicidal threats. However, after consulting a supervisor, the police staff member told the parents that the situation did not meet the threshold for a police response and suggested they contact a locksmith.

"We didn't know how to make a decision at that point or what to do quite frankly," Roberta recalled.

The following morning, after a second call to the police, officers attended the flat and discovered Hobie's body. Roberta expressed that "If the police are no longer going to come, then it has to be very clear who's got the responsibility."