Shaun Dykes, 17, from Kilburn, fell to his death from the top of the Westfield Centre multi-storey in Derby on 27 September, as onlookers shouted "jump". The Chief Constable of the Derbyshire constabulary Mick Creedon said "It disgusts me to think of their motivation and their lack of compassion. While we are very used to dealing with incidents like this, this was unusual with members of the public videoing, taking photographs and even shouting for Shaun to jump. All my experience and belief in the good in people tells me that the vast majority of the crowd who watched the events unfold were wishing for the best result, hoping that Shaun remained safe and well. However, all of us associated with the force see the actions of that small minority who were encouraging Shaun to take his own life as totally abhorrent. It disgusts me to think of their motivation and their lack of compassion towards a fellow human being obviously in distress."
Police had spent three hours trying to coax the teenager down. Some onlookers even used phones to film the event. Mr Creedon explained that there had not been enough police officers available to arrest those onlookers urging the teenager to jump.
"I know people are asking why these irresponsible idiots weren't arrested at the time, but I ask the public to understand that the few available officers at the scene were doing their best to manage a difficult situation.
A shame that there weren’t a few more officers available. A number of people deserved to find out in a particularly degrading manner that calling for a disturbed person to jump is not a joke. I hope they choke on their videos and their memories.
My thoughts are with Shaun's family. To lose their son at such a young age and in such a way is terrible.
