Latest news with #GabrielSanter
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Car park barrier law change 'a step closer' after teen's fall death
The father of a teenager who died after falling from the open roof of a building says he feels a step closer to a law change that could stop "easily preventable tragedies". Gabriel Santer, 15, fell to his death from the Q Park multi-storey car-park on Hanover Street, Liverpool city centre, in father Johnny Santer has been campaigning for legislation known as Gabe's Law, which would see an increase in the minimum height of barriers on the top of car parks to 2.7m, up from the current minimum of told BBC Radio Merseyside he is confident the issue is being taken seriously by the government after meeting building safety minister Alex Norris MP earlier. Gabriel, who was known for his love of skateboarding, died on 3 October 2020 after spending time with his friends in the city centre. An inquest the following year recorded an open verdict after a coroner heard there was no evidence available to confirm how Gabriel, who was alone at the time, came to fall from the building. Mr Santer previously told the BBC: "When I went up to the car park I was deeply shocked and saddened to see the height of the barrier Gabriel fell from was actually hip-height."The bill, called the Multi-storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill, was first proposed in Parliament by Maria Eagle, Labour MP for Mr Santer's constituency Liverpool Garston, in 2023. At the time she said that while there was a lack of official data, searches of newspaper reports found at least 17 deaths caused by falls from multi-storey car parks in England across 2022. The bill had been due to move forward but its future was unclear after the general election last July. However Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed on Wednesday the government would look at the contents of the bill and issue a call for evidence. Mr Santer said: "Here we are in 2025, and people in my own city are still dying preventable deaths from these falls, these tragedies from car parks that can be so easily prevented, by just applying the legislation we're asking for. "It really is that simple."Mr Santer said he was confident the bill was being taken "extremely seriously at the highest level of government" after meeting Mr Norris. He also called for other families who have lost loved ones in similar ways to get in contact. "It's a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned, and it will be for everyone who looks into the issue," he said. "We're not asking for anything other than to keep the most vulnerable members of our communities safe by doing some very rudimentary changes to current legislation." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
South Wales Guardian
02-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Starmer pledges to review minimum barrier heights in multi-storey car parks
Gabriel Santer died after falling from the top of a multi-storey car park in the city centre in October 2020. The Prime Minister said he wanted to 'prevent future tragedies', and the Government will conduct a call for evidence on minimum barrier heights in car parks. This came after Labour MP Peter Dowd urged Sir Keir to back his calls to increase the minimum required height of guarding. Mr Dowd's Multi-Storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill also proposes 24-hour staffing of such car parks, to improve safety. During Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Dowd, MP for Bootle said: 'Gabe Santer, a 15-year-old, fell to his death from a multi-storey car park in Liverpool in 2020. He's one of the many dying in such tragic circumstances, including in my constituency. 'My Multi-Storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill seeks to prevent such deaths. 'Will the Government look carefully at its content as part of a national suicide prevention strategy?' The Prime Minister replied: 'The answer is yes, we will look at the content of it, and I'm grateful to him for raising it.' He added: 'Across the House, we have all got tragic experience of suicide, and our thoughts are with Gabe's family and with his friends. 'We will conduct a call for evidence on part K of the building regulations about minimum guarding heights, so that necessary protections are in place to prevent future tragedies. We will also look at the contents of the Bill.' Defence minister Maria Eagle previously presented 'Gabe's Law' to Parliament in 2023, in a bid to reform the safety of car parks.
North Wales Chronicle
02-07-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Starmer pledges to review minimum barrier heights in multi-storey car parks
Gabriel Santer died after falling from the top of a multi-storey car park in the city centre in October 2020. The Prime Minister said he wanted to 'prevent future tragedies', and the Government will conduct a call for evidence on minimum barrier heights in car parks. This came after Labour MP Peter Dowd urged Sir Keir to back his calls to increase the minimum required height of guarding. Mr Dowd's Multi-Storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill also proposes 24-hour staffing of such car parks, to improve safety. During Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Dowd, MP for Bootle said: 'Gabe Santer, a 15-year-old, fell to his death from a multi-storey car park in Liverpool in 2020. He's one of the many dying in such tragic circumstances, including in my constituency. 'My Multi-Storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill seeks to prevent such deaths. 'Will the Government look carefully at its content as part of a national suicide prevention strategy?' The Prime Minister replied: 'The answer is yes, we will look at the content of it, and I'm grateful to him for raising it.' He added: 'Across the House, we have all got tragic experience of suicide, and our thoughts are with Gabe's family and with his friends. 'We will conduct a call for evidence on part K of the building regulations about minimum guarding heights, so that necessary protections are in place to prevent future tragedies. We will also look at the contents of the Bill.' Defence minister Maria Eagle previously presented 'Gabe's Law' to Parliament in 2023, in a bid to reform the safety of car parks.
The Independent
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Starmer pledges to review minimum barrier heights in multi-storey car parks
Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to review the safety of multi-storey car parks, following the death of a 15-year-old boy in Liverpool. Gabriel Santer died after falling from the top of a multi-storey car park in the city centre in October 2020. The Prime Minister said he wanted to 'prevent future tragedies', and the Government will conduct a call for evidence on minimum barrier heights in car parks. This came after Labour MP Peter Dowd urged Sir Keir to back his calls to increase the minimum required height of guarding. Mr Dowd's Multi-Storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill also proposes 24-hour staffing of such car parks, to improve safety. During Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Dowd, MP for Bootle said: 'Gabe Santer, a 15-year-old, fell to his death from a multi-storey car park in Liverpool in 2020. He's one of the many dying in such tragic circumstances, including in my constituency. 'My Multi-Storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill seeks to prevent such deaths. 'Will the Government look carefully at its content as part of a national suicide prevention strategy?' The Prime Minister replied: 'The answer is yes, we will look at the content of it, and I'm grateful to him for raising it.' He added: 'Across the House, we have all got tragic experience of suicide, and our thoughts are with Gabe's family and with his friends. 'We will conduct a call for evidence on part K of the building regulations about minimum guarding heights, so that necessary protections are in place to prevent future tragedies. We will also look at the contents of the Bill.' Defence minister Maria Eagle previously presented 'Gabe's Law' to Parliament in 2023, in a bid to reform the safety of car parks.
Leader Live
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Starmer pledges to review minimum barrier heights in multi-storey car parks
Gabriel Santer died after falling from the top of a multi-storey car park in the city centre in October 2020. The Prime Minister said he wanted to 'prevent future tragedies', and the Government will conduct a call for evidence on minimum barrier heights in car parks. This came after Labour MP Peter Dowd urged Sir Keir to back his calls to increase the minimum required height of guarding. Mr Dowd's Multi-Storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill also proposes 24-hour staffing of such car parks, to improve safety. During Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Dowd, MP for Bootle said: 'Gabe Santer, a 15-year-old, fell to his death from a multi-storey car park in Liverpool in 2020. He's one of the many dying in such tragic circumstances, including in my constituency. 'My Multi-Storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill seeks to prevent such deaths. 'Will the Government look carefully at its content as part of a national suicide prevention strategy?' The Prime Minister replied: 'The answer is yes, we will look at the content of it, and I'm grateful to him for raising it.' He added: 'Across the House, we have all got tragic experience of suicide, and our thoughts are with Gabe's family and with his friends. 'We will conduct a call for evidence on part K of the building regulations about minimum guarding heights, so that necessary protections are in place to prevent future tragedies. We will also look at the contents of the Bill.' Defence minister Maria Eagle previously presented 'Gabe's Law' to Parliament in 2023, in a bid to reform the safety of car parks.
