Two emergency call handlers have been slammed by a police watchdog for "unsatisfactory performance" after a man found dead in a garage was not classed as missing for almost six hours after he disappeared.

Kent Police was called just after midnight on March 15 by a woman concerned with the welfare of the ex-partner she was living with, a report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct said.

She told the call handler the man suffered with mental health issues and had tried to harm himself in the past.

She added he was due to be interviewed by police at 11am that day for domestic abuse against her, and she could hear him being sick.

The call was graded as 'high' and classified as a 'concern other' call-type, however, while the duty inspector was made aware of the incident, no patrols were sent to the address in Dunkirk, near Faversham.

At 7.12am, the woman phoned police again to tell a different call handler that her ex-partner was no longer at their home.

The interviewing officer tried to contact the man by phone, but couldn't get through and the incident remained classified as a 'high' grade 'concern other'.

A dispatcher made the duty sergeant aware of the incident at 11.42am after the man did not arrive for his police interview.

At 12.43pm a patrol arrived at the man’s home and confirmed he was not inside.

"At the end of our investigation, based on the evidence available, we were of the opinion that two staff members had displayed unsatisfactory performance" - the Independent Office for Police Conduct

Thirteen minutes later, the man was deemed to be a missing person, and at 1.12pm, he was found dead at the garages round the back of his home.

An inquest into the man’s death later concluded with a verdict of death by suicide.

A probe was then launched, where an IOPC investigator gathered and examined relevant documents, reviewed the calls between the woman and the force on the day, and analysed the available police resources and other incidents on this date.

Investigators also obtained a number of witness statements from other police staff and officers who were involved.

Following analysis of the evidence, three members of staff were served with misconduct notices.

It was alleged all three failed in their duties and responsibilities to categorise/amend the incident from a 'concern other' call-type to a 'missing person' call-type after the second call at 7.12am.

It was also alleged one call handler failed to inform a team leader or sergeant when she became concerned the woman’s call was still outstanding, as per the training guidelines for dispatchers.

The IOPC said: "At the end of our investigation, based on the evidence available, we were of the opinion that two staff members had displayed unsatisfactory performance.

"After reviewing our report, Kent Police agreed that they would address these issues with the two members of staff.

"We also recommended that Kent Police should review their policies and provide clarity on when Force Control Room staff should escalate missing person incidents – both inside and outside of the force control room – and to whom."

A force spokesman said: "Kent Police made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct following the death of a man in Dunkirk, near Faversham, on Friday, March 16, 2018.

"The IOPC concluded that two members of staff in the force control room had displayed unsatisfactory performance relating to their handling of the incident.

"Both members of staff have been referred to the human resources department and will attend a capability meeting to discuss any training requirements.

"The IOPC also recommended that the force should review its policies relating to people who are reported as missing, which has already been carried out and improvements made.

"Our thoughts remain with the family of the man who died during this difficult time."