Mother says daughter who died on M5 'was failed'

Tamzin Hall, 17, from Wellington in Somerset, died after being struck by a car on the M5 between Taunton and Bridgwater shortly after 23:00 GMT on 11 November. Her mother, Amy Hall, said authorities 'failed' her daughter and that Tamzin never got the right help or was listened to. Avon and Somerset Police said it referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and could not speculate on findings.

Tamzin was being transported to custody from a Taunton care home to Bridgwater around 22:40 GMT when the car pulled over on the northbound carriageway for safety reasons. The IOPC said Tamzin was handcuffed in the back of the police vehicle, with an officer beside her, when the stop was made. Tamzin then managed to escape from the car and flee across the motorway, dying after she was struck by a vehicle on the southbound carriageway shortly after 23:00 GMT.

Tamzin's mother said Tamzin should have been transported in a police van because of her high-risk behaviour, and she questioned how Tamzin could get out of handcuffs and the car with two officers present. 'My question is - how did she manage to get out of the handcuffs and out of the car with two police officers?' Amy Hall said. She described Tamzin as beautiful, caring and funny, with a love of cooking and birds. The mother also spoke of the impact of Tamzin's father's death from cancer when Tamzin was eight, and of the anxiety that followed as Tamzin grew older. 'She was overwhelmed in class, and they didn't know that at the time, so it just looked like bad behaviour,' Hall said.

Tamzin was known to the police and described as extremely impulsive. Her supporters noted she needed careful safety planning, and her family said they trusted professionals to look after her. Police and care providers have said they would cooperate with the IOPC investigation and that Tamzin's welfare and the welfare of officers at the scene would be considered during any review.

The IOPC said it has served misconduct notices on two officers for a potential breach of their duties and responsibilities, and Avon and Somerset Police said it will be open and transparent about the investigation while supporting the officers involved. 'We are committed to being open and transparent about what happened and we have said from the outset that we will do whatever we can to assist the IOPC's enquiries,' the force said. It also noted the need to consider the welfare of staff who were at the scene.

Somerset's council, the NHS foundation trust and Homes2Inspire, the charity involved in Tamzin's care, said they supported the IOPC inquiry and offered condolences to Tamzin's family, adding that they would not comment further while the investigation proceeded.