HC Deb 01 May 2003 vol 404 cc531-2W
Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the letter to him from the Liverpool coroner about the death of Scott Veach and Darren Franey. [109385]

Hilary Benn

Andre J. A. Rebello, Her Majesty's Coroner for the City of Liverpool, sent a letter to the Home Secretary on 25 March pursuant to Rule 43 of the Coroners' Rules, 1984.

I have written to Dr. Rebello informing him that I share his concerns that the arrangements for policing the Mersey Tunnels should be safe and effective.

The Home Office has asked for the views of Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police and the Chief Executive of Mersey Travel on the issues raised in this investigation and how the policing of Mersey Tunnel should be carried out in future. Home Office and Department for Transport officials will then be taking forward work with the responsible organisations to address the issues.

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