Can Arslan: Victim's family criticises 'toothless' police response - BBC News
Matthew Boorman's family say mistakes were made by the authorities that must never be repeated.
Matthew Boorman was described as someone who "lived life to the max"

The family of a man who was stabbed 27 times by his neighbour have criticised the "toothless and ineffective" police response in the run-up to his death.

Can Arslan, 52, from Walton Cardiff, Gloucestershire, murdered Matthew Boorman, after subjecting his neighbours to 12 years of threats.

The day before Mr Boorman's death, Arslan told police he would "sort his neighbour out and murder him".

The case has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

The threat of murder did not appear on police systems until 15:40 GMT the next day - less than two hours before Arslan stabbed Mr Boorman.

Mr Boorman's family said questions must be asked about how this was able to happen so that it is never repeated

In a statement, Mr Boorman's family said: "We must ask ourselves why this was able to happen...mistakes were made, they must never be repeated.

"As we move forward and learn how to cope without him, we fight in his name to expose not only the malice and cruelty of the man that did this, but also the failings in the system that let this happen.

"The police and other authorities had been told how dangerous this man was, the threats he made and the risks he presented.

"The response was toothless and ineffective, even when the defendant himself told the police he was going to murder Matthew."

Following the guilty verdict Arslan was remanded to Broadmoor secure hospital and will be sentenced in June.

Can Arslan was found guilty of murdering his neighbour Matthew Boorman

Assistant Chief Constable of Gloucestershire Police Craig Holden said: "We understand what was heard in court raises questions over what was done by police and other agencies before the terrible events.

"Following the incident the constabulary referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and it is currently investigating police actions."

An independent multi-agency review has also been commissioned, which will look at how both public and private sector organisations worked together to address the concerns of Arslan's neighbours.

"It is crucial we allow these reviews to be carried out without prejudice and as such it would not be appropriate to comment in any detail at this time," Mr Holden added.

"However, we can reassure people that we will act on their findings."

The IOPC said it was investigating Gloucestershire Police's "actions following a series of reported neighbourhood incidents" prior to Mr Boorman's death.

At the time of the murder, Arslan was under an injunction banning him from threatening or abusing his neighbours and he had been served an eviction notice.

Small rows over parking and a scratch to a car had led to Arslan making repeated threats to attack or kill his neighbours.

Many of them installed CCTV which was ultimately used as evidence in the murder trial.

In May, Mr Boorman's wife told police she was worried about being murdered.

Arslan made counter-allegations, accusing the Boorman's of racially abusing him.

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