Eighteen members of police given misconduct notices after college lecturer stabbed to loss of life by estranged husband was ‘failed by authorities’

A police watchdog has confirmed 18 members of Devon and Cornwall Police including officers, staff and a retired officer have been served with ‘misconduct and gross misconduct notices’ as part of their investigation into Claire Chick’s murder.

University lecturer Ms Chick, 48, was stabbed to death in Plymouth on January 22 by her abusive ex-husband Paul Butler only hours after begging police to arrest him.

A nationwide manhunt for Butler was instigated after he fled the scene. He was found 20 miles away.

Butler pleaded guilty to Ms Chick’s murder and another charge of possession of a bladed article on 18 March 2025 at Plymouth Crown Court. He was sentenced to a minimum of 27 years’ imprisonment.

Following her death, it was revealed Ms Chick was in contact with Devon and Cornwall Police on various occasions about Butler’s threatening behaviour.

The force subsequently referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to investigate their prior contact with Ms Chick and to examine if procedures were followed correctly.

As part of the IOPC’s inquiries, 15 police officers, two police staff members and one former officer have now been served with misconduct and gross misconduct notices.

In a statement, the Independent Office of Police Conduct said: ‘Our thoughts and sympathies continue to be with Claire Chick’s family and friends for their devastating loss.

‘Our investigation into the contact Ms Chick had with Devon and Cornwall Police, prior to her murder in January 2025, continues to make progress.

‘Investigators are looking at the actions and decisions taken by Devon and Cornwall Police and examining whether relevant policies and procedures were followed.

‘As part of our enquiries we have served fifteen police officers, two police staff members and one former officer, with misconduct and gross misconduct notices, who were involved in logging information, risk assessments and safeguarding decisions made about Ms Chick on a number of occasions from September 2024, until just prior to her murder.

‘The serving of such notices does not necessarily mean that disciplinary proceedings will follow and will be kept under review as our work continues.’  

Ms Chick and Butler became neighbours in 2021 before marrying in June 2024. 

The mother-of-two first approached Devon and Cornwall Police on 19 September 2024, expressing worries about Butler’s erratic behaviour. 

Butler had flown to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, around this time, but wrote to Ms Chick saying he wanted half the house and half her pension.

On September 26, Ms Chick gave her first statement of six to the police further detailing her fears. 

Her next statement was on 14 October and the third was only two days later, on 16 October, where she said she felt ‘stupid and embarrassed’ at the situation, that it was affecting her work, she was avoiding going out and her friends were saying she was struggling to cope.

She was found seriously injured in West Hoe Road, Plymouth on the evening of 22 January 2025, and later died in hospital. 

In a statement following her death, the family criticised authorities’ handling of her case, saying: ‘We are absolutely devastated and broken at the loss of our beautiful caring mother Claire Chick.

‘She was the most beautiful lively soul and was there for everyone.

‘Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for her. When she needed security and begged for help to protect her she was failed by local authorities.

‘Our mum wrote and spoke out to say in the event of her death she wanted people to know she was let down and we will do whatever we can to make sure her legacy and her strong will gets seen from us, her two daughters.

‘We will never get over this as a family she was our glue and our go to. We won’t ever get the justice our mum deserves for this because no amount of justice will bring her back.’

Jo Taylor, a close friend of Ms Chick, previously accused the force of ‘doing nothing’ to help. She told the Daily Mail Ms Chick regularly alerted them of ‘evil’ Butler who stalked and attacked her – including on the morning of her murder.

Ms Taylor said: ‘He hounded her, he climbed in her car when she was driving, he tried to break into her house so she had to get cameras fitted.

‘She reported everything to the police but they did nothing, they would ring him and speak to him but that was it.

‘The day he murdered her she had been called in to the police that morning and they just did nothing, they spoke to him and let him go.’

Ms Taylor – who met Ms Chick while both were working as nurses at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester – added: ‘She moved to a secret address to get away from him and he found out where she was near where the new apartment was.

‘I have no idea how he found her but I think he had a tracker on her phone because she always kept the same number.

‘She would block him and he would get another phone every time.

‘Nobody would believe how bad it was, the police didn’t accept it wasn’t just another domestic, but he was evil.

‘The police did not listen, she called them almost every week from when they separated in September telling them what he was doing.

‘Nobody protected Claire.’

Devon and Cornwall Police Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew said the force ‘continues to fully co-operate’ with the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s investigation into its contact with Ms Chick. 

He said: ‘My thoughts and condolences remain with the family and friends of Claire Chick on-going independent investigation into our previous contact with Claire.

‘We acknowledge that the IOPC has served a number of officers and a police staff member with notices informing them they are under investigation for potential misconduct or gross misconduct.

‘Such notices advise individuals that their conduct is subject to investigation, but it does not mean that disciplinary proceedings will necessarily follow.

‘The Force is supporting all officers and staff through this process.’