Report must be disclosed to learn the lessons from Gloria Foster case

, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition on Surrey County Council has today issued Freedom of Information requests to the County Council and Surrey Police asking to be provided with a copy of the police report into their investigation into the death of Gloria Foster.

Gloria Foster was left alone for nine days without food or medication.

Gloria Foster, 81 of Banstead, died in February after her care agency shut with no replacement, after officers from the UK Border Agency and the Metropolitan Police raided the care agency Carefirst24 in Sutton on 15 January as part of an investigation into suspected illegal workers and fraud. She was found at home by a district nurse and died in hospital. Mrs Foster was found suffering from dehydration and starvation after going without the four daily visits she was due to have. Carefirst24 provided care to elderly people across Surrey on behalf of Surrey County Council.

At the end of the police investigation Surrey Police, said: "Over the past three months we have carried out an extensive investigation looking at the circumstances leading up to Ms Foster's tragic death. We have received advice from the Crown Prosecution Service and we have determined that no criminal charges can be brought in relation to this case. The friends and family of Ms Foster have been updated as to the results of our investigation and we will now share our findings with Surrey County Council to assist them in ensuring that the circumstances of Ms Foster's tragic death are never replicated."

The Surrey County Council's Safeguarding Adults Board is now investigating Mrs Foster's death.

Speaking today, Hazel Watson said: "There has been a wall of silence from Surrey County Council since this tragic event. Whilst it is important that the Surrey Safeguarding Adults Board take a detailed look at what happened and at what lessons can be learnt, it is also vital that the investigations are open and transparent.

"We now know that there will be no criminal proceedings and it is crucial that county councillors and the public are reassured that there is no ongoing problem that needs tackling and that lessons are learnt to prevent any recurrence of the tragedy. Surrey Police shared their findings to ensure 'that the circumstances of Ms Foster's tragic death are never replicated' and it is vital that there is no further delay in the report being made public to achieve this."