Police reinvestigate death of woman found in flat

Police are reinvestigating the death of a 27-year-old woman whose body was found in her flat nearly two years ago after her family campaigned for the case to be reviewed.

Katie Beattie was found dead in her flat in Lancaster in July 2024 and detectives initially concluded her death was not suspicious, despite her family raising concerns about the circumstances.

The family successfully applied for the case to be reexamined via the Victims' Right to Review scheme.

Lancashire Police said: "The initial investigation has been reviewed following a victim right to review, and further enquiries are being conducted following this."

The force appealed for anyone with information to come forward, adding: "Our thoughts remain with Katie's loved ones at this time."

More than 5,000 people have so far signed a petition set up by Katie Beattie's family calling for urgent reform in investigations of unexplained or suspicious deaths.

They want to introduce Katie Beth's Law, requiring all unexplained or potentially suspicious deaths to receive a full forensic examination within 24 hours.

The Victims' Right to Review scheme allows victims of crime to request a formal review of a decision by the police or the Crown Prosecution Service not to prosecute a suspect or to drop a case.

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