A Metropolitan Police officer, Nicola Forster, who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after working on the frontline of the Grenfell Tower fire, tragically ended her life after feeling targeted by her boss, an inquest has revealed. The 45-year-old was found dead at her home in September 2022, a month after an upsetting meeting with her manager, Inspector Hayley Webb, regarding her return to work following a period of leave.
Forster’s mental health had deteriorated following a negative performance review brought up by Inspector Webb during the meeting. Bedfordshire Coroner’s Court heard that this review was inappropriate and exacerbated Forster’s distress. Police Federation representative Sergeant Timothy Clarke described the meeting as “the most upsetting” he had experienced in his 20 years in the role, expressing regret for not halting the meeting when he saw Forster’s distress.
The handling of the situation by Inspector Webb came under scrutiny, with Forster’s mental health struggles being acknowledged but not adequately supported. Forster, who was a safety training officer at Hendon Police College in North London, had informed Webb of her struggles but faced criticism for her work performance instead.
Forster’s partner, Amy Popple, stated that Forster became very emotional about how her team perceived her, especially after being told they had no faith in her. Forster had confided in a colleague, Liz Hockley, revealing that she had requested an occupational health referral in February 2022, but it was never completed. In an emotional email to Hockley, Forster expressed feeling like a target and lamented the lack of organizational support when she needed it most. She felt discriminated against and unsupported despite asking for help.
The inquest also revealed that Forster felt her staff were coerced into speaking negatively about her, which she perceived as part of the targeting by Webb. Coroner Emma Whitting noted a clear link between Forster’s workplace difficulties and the decline in her mental health leading up to her death.
Forster had been profoundly affected by her experiences working at the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which led to her PTSD. On the night before her death, Forster spoke with Popple, mentioning she had taken a sleeping pill due to her struggle to sleep, but it had not been effective. Popple found Forster’s body on September 28, 2022, after growing concerned when she could not reach her. Both the front and back doors were locked, with keys inside the doors.
The inquest continues to seek a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances surrounding Forster’s death and the impact of her workplace environment on her mental health.
