Thames Valley Police have confirmed they are carrying out a murder investigation following the death of a woman in Bracknell on Wednesday morning.
Police called after woman found with head injury
Officers were summoned to an address in Birkdale at 06:57 on Wednesday after reports a woman had sustained a head injury. Despite the efforts of the South Central Ambulance Service, a 40-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Her next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
“My thoughts are with the family affected by this terrible incident,”
said Bracknell’s Member of Parliament, Peter Swallow, who added he was in contact with Thames Valley Police and urged anyone with information to come forward.
Arrest and local policing measures
A 48-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody. Detectives from the force’s major crime unit are leading the inquiry and police have established scene watches at the address in Birkdale and at a location in Liscombe while enquiries are under way.
Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Brangwin, of the major crime unit, described the inquiry as being at an early stage and said officers were pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish what happened. He asked the public not to speculate online, saying such activity could cause additional distress to those affected and might hinder the investigation.
What residents need to know
- There is an increased police presence in the area while enquiries continue.
- At this stage, investigators do not believe there is a wider risk to the public.
- Anyone with information relevant to the investigation is being asked to contact Thames Valley Police.
Formal identification procedures and a post-mortem are set to take place in due course. The force has urged anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information, including dashcam or doorbell footage from the area around the time of the incident, to make contact.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 06:57 | Police called to Birkdale address following reports of a woman with a head injury |
| Morning | 40-year-old woman pronounced dead at scene; next of kin informed |
| Following call | 48-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder; major crime unit launched investigation |
Local residents have been advised they may continue to see officers in the vicinity while staff complete forensic and other inquiries. Thames Valley Police reiterated the importance of not sharing unverified information and encouraged anyone with anything that could assist the investigation to get in touch directly with detectives.
Further updates will be provided by the force as enquiries progress.
