Parents of UK Trans Teen Jason Pulman Sue Police Over Delayed Response

Emily and Mark Pulman have filed a lawsuit in the UK High Court against Sussex Police, asserting that the force failed in its duty to protect their son, Jason Pulman, after he was reported missing in April 2022. Jason, a transgender teenager from East Sussex, took his own life after his family warned police of his heightened risk due to his mental health history and previous suicide attempts. Despite these warnings and repeated calls from his mother, police did not attend the Pulman home for approximately ten hours, a delay the family believes may have been critical to the tragic outcome .

The Pulmans’ legal action, supported by law firm Bindmans, argues that Sussex Police breached Jason’s right to life under the UK’s Human Rights Act by failing to recognize and act upon the urgent risk he faced. In documents submitted to the court, the family’s legal team claims that police classified Jason as only “medium risk” and did not promptly escalate the search, despite clear evidence of his vulnerability .

An inquest into Jason’s death, concluded in April 2025, found that multiple agencies—including police and mental health services—failed to adequately assess and support Jason’s emotional and psychological needs. The coroner specifically cited delays in police response as a possible contributing factor to Jason’s death, noting that the British Transport Police were not notified in a timely manner despite information that Jason might have traveled by train .

The coroner further warned that Jason’s struggle with his mental health and gender identity highlighted critical gaps in support for transgender youth—a demographic already known to face disproportionate risks of suicide and self-harm. Jason, who began identifying as male at 14, had not received specialist gender dysphoria treatment due to assessment delays, and his family reported a long history of trauma and inadequate mental health care .

In interviews with the press, Emily and Mark Pulman have described the devastation of their loss and their ongoing fight for justice—not just for Jason, but for other vulnerable young people. Emily Pulman emphasized the need for police accountability, stating, “If the police can actually take accountability for what has happened and what went wrong, that is the only way they can start making changes” .

The Pulmans hope their legal action will prompt meaningful reforms in how police and other agencies respond to missing persons, especially those at high risk due to mental health or marginalized identities. “I want to try and get some change for kids like Jason, as I know that that is what he would want as well,” Emily Pulman told reporters, reflecting on her son’s passion for activism and advocacy .

Mark Pulman echoed these sentiments, expressing concern that police have not yet demonstrated evidence of meaningful change, and worried that other families could face similar tragedies if policies are not improved .

Jason’s death has reverberated throughout the UK’s LGBTQ+ community, leading to renewed calls from advocacy groups and mental health organizations for better protection and support of transgender youth. Many groups have noted that the case reflects widespread systemic issues, including long wait times for gender-affirming care and insufficient training for police and crisis responders on the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals .

A spokesperson from Sussex Police said the force offered its “sincere condolences” to Jason’s family but declined further comment while legal proceedings are ongoing . Meanwhile, LGBTQ+ organizations have called for greater transparency and accountability, emphasizing that the tragic loss of Jason Pulman must be a catalyst for lasting reform.

Experts and activists continue to highlight the urgent need for comprehensive, affirming support systems for transgender youth, including rapid access to mental health care and sensitivity training for police and emergency services. The Pulman family’s case is now seen as a watershed moment in the ongoing struggle to ensure that all LGBTQ+ young people are treated with the dignity, urgency, and respect they deserve when at risk.