Autistic 17-year-old Tamzin Hall dies after jumping from moving police car on M5; mother says authorities failed her

An autistic 17-year-old schoolgirl died after jumping from a moving police car on the M5, prompting renewed questions about how she was transported into custody and prompting scrutiny by police watchdogs. Tamzin Hall, from Wellington in Somerset, had been arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage when two Avon and Somerset Police officers transported her in a marked patrol car. The vehicle was traveling on the northbound carriageway of the M5 between junctions 25 at Taunton and 24 at Bridgwater shortly after 11 p.m. on November 11 last year. Tamzin reportedly managed to remove her handcuffs, move from the rear passenger seat to the front passenger seat, and then climbed out of the car. She crossed the road and climbed the crash barrier, and was struck by a vehicle traveling on the opposite carriageway. She died at the scene at 11.10 p.m. from injuries described as head, neck and chest trauma.

Her mother, Amy Hall, told the BBC that Tamzin was desperately failed and never received the right help or was listened to. She questioned how Tamzin could have escaped from the car with two officers present and suggested Tamzin should have been transported in a police van given her high-risk behaviour. Avon and Somerset Police said it had passed the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and would not speculate on findings. Hall also noted that Tamzin had autism and serious mental health issues, while highlighting Tamzin's positive traits and interests, such as cooking and birds, and describing the loss as a profound blow to the family.

The IOPC is investigating the death, including the contact two Avon and Somerset Police officers had with Tamzin before she died. It is examining their actions, decision-making and risk assessments to determine whether they followed relevant training and policies. A separate IOPC annual report, published in July, provided details about how Tamzin came to remove herself from the car. The report states that a female child was arrested for assault and criminal damage and placed in the rear of a marked police car, handcuffed with hands in front, with an officer seated beside her during transport. It notes that during the journey the child managed to remove the handcuffs, climb into the front passenger seat, access the front door and exit from the moving car, crossing the road before being struck by a vehicle on the opposite carriageway. The car reportedly pulled over for safety reasons.

Tributes from Tamzin’s family followed her death. Her mother described Tamzin as kind, caring and intelligent, with a strong sense of humor and a love for cooking and birds. She recalled that Tamzin had faced personal hardships, including the loss of her father to cancer when she was eight and a time in care, which her mother said was not the right environment for her. Amy Hall spoke about Tamzin’s love of simple things, including conversations with family and chocolate, and said that Tamzin’s death has left a lasting impact on the family as they try to cope with the loss. The inquest continues to navigate the circumstances surrounding Tamzin’s death, while authorities await findings from the IOPC investigation to determine whether any lessons should be learned or policy changes implemented in the handling of youths with high-risk behaviours in custody.

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