Police worker is facing misconduct probe after force failed to respond to 999 call to home where the bodies of father, his two daughters and sister-in-law were found dead in a suspected murder-suicide tragedy

A police civilian employee is facing disciplinary action for gross misconduct after a force failed to respond to a 999 call at a property where four people were later found dead with stab wounds.

Bartlomiej Kuczynski, 45, his two young daughters and his sister-in-law died at their house in Costessey, Norfolk, in January.

Detectives believe Kuczynski stabbed the other three before turning the knife on himself.

The Pole – who had previously come into contact with local mental health services - rang 999 an hour before the brutal slayings and spoke of his 'confused' mental state. 

He was told to seek help for himself and no one was sent.

Officers only attended after a passer-by rang to report concerns about the occupants of the house in Costessey, near Norwich. 

By the time they arrived, it was too late.

An Independent Office for Police Conduct spokesman said: 'We can confirm, as part of our ongoing investigation into the tragic deaths of four people on January 19, we have served a gross misconduct notice on a Norfolk Constabulary staff member.

'Following a mandatory referral from Norfolk, we began an independent investigation into the contact the force had with Bartlomiej Kuczynski shortly before his body and three other bodies were discovered by police in a house in Costessey.'

The watchdog has not given its reason for the decision, nor has it named the individual, who has been suspended while the investigation continues.

Police broke into the semi-detached house at 7.15am on January 19 and found the bodies of Mr Kuczynski, his daughters Jasmin, 12, and Natasha, eight, and his sister-in-law Kanticha Sukpengpanao, 36.

He had dialled 999 at around 6am to express concern for his mental state, saying he was 'confused'. 

No police resources were sent and he was advised to seek 'medical advice' for himself by contacting the NHS on the non-emergency 111 number.

Home Office post-mortem examinations found that Natasha died from 'sharp force injuries to the neck' and Jasmin sustained an 'incised wound to the neck'.

Ms Sukpengpanao, a businesswoman who was visiting from her home in Thailand, died of stab wounds to the neck, while Mr Kuczynski took his own life with a single stab wound to the neck.

His Thai-born wife Nanthaka, who was the mother of the girls, had reportedly left before the killings for an early shift at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

The IOPC continues to investigate an earlier referral from Norfolk Police. The force revealed it launched a search for Mr Kuczynski after he was reported missing from his home on December 14 last year.

Multiple police cars attended. He was found in a nearby road and taken to the same hospital in Norwich where his wife works for a mental health assessment.

An initial clinical assessment was carried out but he left the hospital unescorted before a review could be carried out.

The IOPC said in January it would be looking into whether 'the force's handling of the contact… was appropriate and in line with force policy, training and procedures'.

It added today: 'The serving of a conduct notice does not necessarily mean that disciplinary proceedings will follow.'

After the deaths, Norfolk Police suspended a controversial plan to stop responding to most mental health 999 calls. 

It had been due to start its Right Care Right Person initiative to reduce the amount of time officers spend dealing with people who have mental health issues.

A force spokesman said: 'We are aware of the process involving the member of Norfolk Constabulary police staff but cannot comment on specific details, given the IOPC are carrying out the independent investigation.

'The constabulary continues to co-operate with the IOPC and can confirm the staff member has been suspended while the investigation establishes the facts.'