No police disciplinary action after girl's M5 death

Two officers being investigated after a teenager who escaped from a stationary police car on the M5 died after being hit by another vehicle will not face disciplinary action.

Tamzin Hall, 17, from Wellington in Somerset, was being transported by the police after being arrested after a disturbance at the children's home where she lived in Taunton in November 2024.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) had served the officers who were transporting her with misconduct notices for a potential breach of their duties and responsibilities, but has now said no disciplinary case was found for either.

A jury inquest into Tamzin's death is scheduled for January 2027.

The police watchdog previously said the officers stopped the car on the northbound hard shoulder between junction 24 for Bridgwater and junction 25 for Taunton for safety reasons.

While stopped, Tamzin removed her handcuffs and fled, before she was fatally struck by another vehicle on the opposite carriageway at about 23:00 GMT.

A pre-inquest hearing at Taunton Coroners' Court on Wednesday heard Tamzin, who had autism, had tried to escape from moving vehicles three times in the year before she died.

An IOPC spokesperson said their thoughts and sympathies remained with Tamzin's family and friends now their investigation was over.

"We examined the contact two officers had with the teenager prior to her death, including their actions, decision-making and risk assessments of the situation and whether these followed relevant training and policies," they said.

"Both officers were served with misconduct notices for a potential breach of their duties and responsibilities, which were kept under review as our enquiries progressed.

"At the end of our investigation, we found no disciplinary case to answer for either officer."

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