Security officer at the Houses of Parliament killed himself after being bullied at work and blamed for an intruder, inquest hears

By ANDREW YOUNG and MARTIN BECKFORD, POLICY EDITOR and RYAN HOOPER, CRIME CORRESPONDENT Published: 22:00, 17 May 2026 | Updated: 22:00, 17 May 2026 A parliamentary security officer took his own life after being bullied at work and blamed for an intruder getting on to the Westminster estate, an inquest has heard. The family of former police inspector Andy Fusher, 56, also revealed how he had felt under pressure over being given more tasks to do than colleagues at his 'toxic' workplace. After being signed off work with stress on January 7 this year, the father of two was found hanged by his wife, Hayley, nine days later at their family home. Mr Fusher's son David told the inquest: 'He would tell me about the pressures of high workloads, the toxic environment and bullying in the workplace. 'I was told he had around 15 ongoing projects to deal with security measures. 'He felt that other colleagues had a lesser case load. He felt this was a toxic working environment with other staff behaving poorly or unsupportively.' Temporary Inspector Sam Knott from Essex Police - where Mr Fusher served for 24 years before transferring to the Metropolitan Police - said his stresses 'centred around' an intruder getting into the Houses of Parliament. He said Mr Fusher, who was also serving a separate six-month disciplinary period, was 'made a scapegoat' for the security breach. Andy Fusher took his own life after being bullied at work and blamed for an intruder getting on to the Westminster estate, an inquest has heard Mr Fusher, pictured with his wife Hayley, felt under pressure over being given more tasks to do than colleagues at his 'toxic' workplace Details of the incident were not revealed at the inquest but they are thought to relate to a case last year revealed by the Daily Mail in which a man dodged armed guards to get on to the estate. The assailant was suffering a psychotic episode at the time and later admitted trespassing on a protected site after getting as far as the House of Lords. He is awaiting sentence. Mr Knott described Mr Fusher as 'an incredibly proud man' and said the six-month disciplinary he was under 'really changed him because he had a clean career with Essex Police and the Met'. He added: 'I can only imagine he got himself in a thought process and could not get out of it. 'If there is evidence his place of work contributed [to his death], that should be investigated by the Government. 'He was struggling over declining mental health due to factors at work which led to his suicide.' Mr Fusher's daughter Hannah said her father was 'blamed' for the trespass incident, despite it 'being seen by a few people'.  She said in a statement: 'He received a warning and this was a catalyst for a decline in his mental health. He was not the same after that... he was miserable.' Mr Fusher joined the Met in 2015, with his last role with the force being in security at the Houses of Parliament. He was a colleague of unarmed constable Keith Palmer who was stabbed to death by terrorist Khalid Masood in March 2017 as he struggled to stop him breaching Westminster security. Mr Fusher's son told the hearing how PC Palmer's death had 'weighed heavily' on his father. And his wife Hayley said her husband had become 'very stressed over a high workload and poor management' at work. She said they had gone on holiday together at the end of December but Mr Fusher was 'crying to me on the phone' on his first day back at work in January. Mrs Fusher told Essex Coroner's Court that her husband felt 'up and down' after being signed off work, sometimes complaining he 'felt low' while at other times appearing 'bubbly and chatty'. Mr Fusher joined the Met in 2015, with his last role with the force being in security at the Houses of Parliament At one stage, she said he had told her: 'You will be better off without me.' He then said he didn't mean it, and Mrs Fusher thought nothing more of it. She said her husband had 'felt positive' about attending a counselling session which he had booked for the day he passed away, but later found him dead when she returned home. Mrs Fusher said her husband felt operations at his work 'were not run well' and that there was 'a toxic working environment'. She said she believed that 'had he not been subject to events in his workplace, he would still be here today'. She described Mr Fusher, of Maldon in Essex, as a 'caring, funny, loyal and passionate' man and said he was 'devoted to his family and friends'. Recording a conclusion of suicide, Essex senior coroner Lincoln Brookes told the hearing: 'I am quite satisfied that [Mr Fusher] felt very anxious and very stressed by things in his workplace, and he felt he had quite a burdensome workload.' The coroner added that Mr Fusher 'felt he was being treated differently and unfairly and this was taking a toll on his wellbeing and his mental health'. Following the inquest, a parliamentary spokesman said: 'Andy was a valued colleague who made an important contribution to the security and safety of everyone at Parliament. He is greatly missed by all who worked alongside him, and our thoughts remain with his family, friends and all those who knew him.' The spokesman added: 'Parliamentary security work hard to keep Parliament safe, and we are continuing to support our colleagues during this difficult time.' For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org The comments below have been moderated in advance. 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