Parents of UK trans teen Jason Pulman plan to sue police over his death
Jason Pulman tragically took his own life. (Pulman Family)
Jason Pulman tragically took his own life. (Pulman Family)
The parents of a trans teenager, Jason Pulman, who took his own life, are suing the police.
Having gone missing, Jason Pulman was found dead in Hampden Park, Eastbourne, East Sussex, in April 2022. He had taken his own life, having been waiting for a first appointment with on an NHS gender identity service for more than two years.
Jason, who was trans masc, was 15.
In April, an inquest jury found systemic failures by a range of services supporting Jason could have contributed to his death. Mark Pulman said his stepson had become increasingly frustrated by the lack of support and appeared to have “given up”. He went on to say: “I know it broke Jason.”
He and Jason’s mother Emily are now suing Sussex Police over an alleged breach of human rights, after approximately 10 hours passed between Jason being reported missing and an officer first attending the family home.
The police offered condolences to the family but said it cannot comment further, the BBC reported.
The couple claim officers “failed properly or at all to protect Jason against the risk of suicide” after he was graded a medium risk, adding that there was a “real prospect of a different outcome” if there had been a “reasonable response” to his disappearance.
“If the police can actually take accountability for what has happened and what went wrong, that is the only way they can start making changes,” Emily claimed.
Mark added: “No amount of money, no apology, is going to make up for three years of what they’ve done because that’s long-term damage.”
The couple have called for more support for youngsters waiting for care.
Suicide is preventable. Readers who are affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact Samaritans on 116 123 (samaritans.org), or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (mind.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.
