West Midlands Police have confessed to four separate missed chances to apprehend a reckless driver in the days leading up to a fatal collision that claimed the life of an 18-year-old student.
The devastating admission comes after Rowan Cheshire, a promising A-level student from Kingswinford, was killed when 23-year-old Reece Hodge's stolen Ford Fiesta ploughed into her vehicle on the A461 in March 2023.
Systemic Failures Revealed
An internal investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) uncovered a shocking catalogue of errors:
- Police failed to arrest Hodge despite having multiple active warrants for his arrest
- Officers missed crucial opportunities to locate him at known addresses
- Inadequate follow-up on intelligence about his whereabouts
- Failure to coordinate between different police units
A Life Cut Short
Rowan Cheshire, described by her heartbroken family as "the most beautiful, kind and caring daughter and sister," had her whole future ahead of her. The talented student was preparing for university when her life was tragically cut short.
Her family released an emotional statement saying: "The pain of losing Rowan in such preventable circumstances is unbearable. We hope lessons are learned so no other family has to endure this agony."
Police Apology and Reforms
Assistant Chief Constable Damian Barratt issued a formal apology, acknowledging: "We let Rowan and her family down. We should have done more to apprehend Hodge before this tragedy occurred."
The force has now implemented significant changes to their procedures, including:
- Enhanced warrant management systems
- Improved intelligence sharing between departments
- Stricter protocols for following up on known offenders
- Additional training for officers handling high-risk cases
Hodge, who had an extensive criminal record, was subsequently sentenced to nine years in prison after admitting to causing death by dangerous driving.
