Grieving Parents Demand Police Reform After Son's Tragic Suicide

In April 2022, 15-year-old Jason Pulman tragically died by suicide in Eastbourne, England. His parents, Emily and Mark Pulman, are now taking legal action against the Sussex Police, alleging they failed to properly respond to Jason's disappearance.

The Pulmans had reported Jason missing several hours before he was found dead, informing police that he was transgender, had self-harmed, and had previously attempted suicide. Despite this, police initially graded Jason's case as "medium" risk, delaying their response and failing to contact the British Transport Police, who may have been able to intervene.

The Pulmans argue that the police's "slow" and "casual" response contributed to Jason's death, as they believe there was a real prospect of a different outcome had the authorities acted more urgently. They are now seeking accountability and changes to how police handle missing persons reports, especially for vulnerable individuals like their son.

The family's lawyer stated that Jason exhibited clear signs of heightened suicide risk, which the police should have recognized and responded to with greater urgency. The Pulmans hope that by taking legal action, they can drive reforms to better protect those at risk of harm in the future.