Latest news with #GaryFurlong
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Forbury Gardens attack families welcome anti-terror changes
The families of three men murdered in a Reading park have said they cautiously welcome changes to anti-terror measures outlined by the Furlong's son James, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails were stabbed to death by Khairi Saadallah in Forbury Gardens on 20 June month, Mr Furlong said he was frustrated with the speed of outlined changes to the Prevent scheme, which failed to intervene in the life of the Southport killer Axel secretary Yvette Cooper has since met Mr Furlong and Mr Ritchie-Bennett's families and written to the three families, acknowledging that Prevent was "not working as it should" in 2020. Following an inquest last year, judge coroner Sir Adrian Fulford concluded their deaths were avoidable and found major problems with intelligence sharing between was given a whole-life term in 2021 after admitting murder and the attempted murder of three other men. In her letter, Cooper said there was a "lack of understanding of the cumulative risk" posed by Saadallah and how updated training will be given to frontline Prevent staff and counter-terrorism police."This letter shows that change can be achieved when families and victims fight hard enough," Mr Furlong said."However, it remains a tragedy the human cost that has been suffered in order to take these forward steps. "Our hope now is that the improvements laid out by Yvette Cooper in her letter will have the desired positive effect, and that other families will not have to suffer as we have." Mr Furlong and his wife Jan have asked for a meeting with health secretary Wes Streeting to address points raising by Sir Adrian about mental health provisions for people identified as posing a high risk, like night before the murders, officers visited Saadallah after his brother rang police to raise concerns about his mental Day partner Benjamin Burrows, who represents the victims' families, said Cooper's meeting was a "step in the right direction"."The coroner also raised serious concerns with the mental health care of Saadallah, and our clients remain determined to speak with health secretary Wes Streeting to address these."The Home Office was approached to comment. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Reading attack victim's father 'still chasing' government changes
The father of a man murdered in a Reading park said relatives of victims have had to "drag" governments to make meaningful Furlong's son James, David Wails and Joe Ritchie-Bennett were stabbed to death by Khairi Saadallah in Forbury Gardens on 20 June Furlong met home secretary Yvette Cooper and Home Office minister Dan Jarvis earlier this year and said the government was aware the men's families were "really not happy" with Home Office was approached to comment. Mr Furlong, from Liverpool, said he was "still chasing" details about how planned changes to the government's anti-extremism Prevent programme had improved an inquest into the three men's deaths, judge coroner Sir Adrian Fulford concluded their deaths were avoidable and found major problems with intelligence sharing between authorities. Saadallah and Southport killer Axel Rudakubana were both referred to Prevent before they committed their crimes."I have been very passionate about the fact that we need to be auditing any changes," Mr Furlong told BBC Radio Berkshire."We need to see that they are actually being effective. When we saw the incident in Southport, it threw us back to square one."Saadallah was given a whole-life term in 2021 after admitting murder and the attempted murder of three other men. Mr Furlong added: "If the families don't fight, nothing happens. It's only pressure from the families that means we ever get any change."It seems that we have to drag them screaming and kicking to do these changes."Counter Terrorism Policing, the Probation Service and Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust were among other organisations criticised for failing in the Saadallah Furlong, his wife Jan and other relatives and friends of the three victims will gather at events in Reading on Friday.A private memorial service at St Laurence's Church will be held from 18:00 BST. Gates will open in Forbury Gardens from 18:30 ahead of a civil memorial service there."We miss James so much. It's very difficult to put into words," Mr Furlong added."As much as we are celebrating James' memory and I like to celebrate him, it comes with terrible sadness." Mr Furlong's MP Paula Barker said Sir Adrian's conclusions must be implemented so his work is "not yet another report of this nature that sits on a shelf gathering dust"."The state does this all too often, and it fails to learn the lessons following the loss of life in entirely preventable circumstances," the Liverpool Wavertree representative added."We have witnessed repeated failings on behalf of Prevent that have resulted in other tragedies." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
