Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed the government is “listening” to calls for new legislation to increase the height of safety barriers on multi-storey car parks. The statement comes in response to a long-running campaign known as Gabe's Law, initiated after the death of 15-year-old Gabriel Santer in Liverpool in 2020.
Gabriel fell from the top of the Q Park on Hanover Street in October of that year. His father, Johnny Santer, has since been advocating for a change in the law to prevent similar incidents, arguing that current safety standards are inadequate.
Key Takeaways
- A campaign, known as Gabe's Law, seeks to increase the minimum height of multi-storey car park safety barriers from 1.1 metres to 2.7 metres.
- The proposed legislation is named after Gabriel Santer, a 15-year-old who died after a fall from a Liverpool car park in 2020.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated his government is “listening” and will look for a way to address the issue.
- Gabriel's father, Johnny Santer, has welcomed the Prime Minister's comments but remains concerned about the ongoing risk of further preventable deaths.
Prime Minister Addresses Safety Campaign
During a visit to Liverpool for his party's annual conference, Prime Minister Keir Starmer was asked about the campaign for Gabe's Law. The issue had previously been raised in Parliament during Prime Minister's Questions by Bootle MP Peter Dowd.
Responding to questions, the Prime Minister acknowledged the gravity of the situation and the family's efforts.
"Yes we can look at it. We need to find the right vehicle, the right way to do whatever can be done," Sir Keir stated. "It was raised with me in PMQs and I expressed my concern at the time. It is a terrible case and to his family and friends devastating and to all those campaigning on it."
He concluded his remarks with a clear message to the campaigners: "We need to find the right way to do it but certainly we are listening."
Legislative Background
The proposed legislation is formally titled the Multi-Storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill. It was first introduced in Parliament by Liverpool MP Maria Eagle and is now being championed by Peter Dowd MP. The bill's central aim is to amend existing building regulations for these specific structures.
The Push for Gabe's Law
The campaign is driven by Johnny Santer, following the death of his son, Gabriel, who was known as Gabe. He argues that the current legal requirement for pedestrian barriers on multi-storey car parks is insufficient to ensure public safety.
Current vs. Proposed Barrier Heights
Current UK law mandates that safety barriers, or pedestrian edge restraints, at multi-storey car parks must be at least 1.1 metres (approximately 3.6 feet) high. Johnny Santer has consistently argued that while car park operators may be compliant with this regulation, the standard itself is flawed and contributes to preventable deaths.
Gabe's Law proposes a significant increase in this minimum height.
- Current Minimum Height: 1.1 metres
- Proposed Minimum Height: 2.7 metres (approximately 8.8 feet)
The campaign's position is that a 2.7-metre barrier would make it significantly more difficult for falls to occur, whether accidental or intentional, thereby saving lives.
A Father's Campaign for Change
Reacting to the Prime Minister's comments, Johnny Santer described the acknowledgment as a significant step forward for the campaign, especially as the five-year anniversary of his son's death approaches.
"Having the Prime Minister tell us that the Government is listening and that they are looking at The Multi-Storey Car Parks [Safety] Bill, to be known as @Gabes_law, is a real boost for our social justice campaign," he said.
Mr. Santer expressed deep concern over the continued risk posed by the current low barrier heights. He highlighted that coroners across the country, including in Liverpool, have issued multiple Prevention of Future Death reports related to falls from multi-storey car parks.
Local Statistics
According to Johnny Santer, there have been at least six deaths resulting from falls from multi-storey car parks in Liverpool alone since 2020. This statistic underscores the urgency of the campaign's mission.
"It does deeply concern me that we have the Bill ready to go and every single day that passes there is the chance that another preventable tragedy occurs," he added.
The campaign's focus now includes expanding its reach to connect with other families and communities nationwide to build broader support, following the official backing it received from Liverpool City Council.
Political Support and Next Steps
The campaign has consistent cross-party political support. Bootle MP Peter Dowd, who is leading the bill in Parliament, welcomed the Prime Minister's reassurance.
“I’m really pleased that the Prime Minister has reiterated his continued commitment to a way forward in relation to Gabe’s Law,” Mr. Dowd said. He affirmed his willingness to “engage with any one or any organisation to enable this much needed law to be implemented.”
The next step for the campaigners involves a meeting with the new Minister for Housing and Building Safety, Samantha Dixon MP. This meeting was arranged after Mr. Dowd initially raised the issue with the Prime Minister in early July.
As the legislative process continues, the family and its supporters remain hopeful that the government's willingness to listen will translate into concrete action, creating a lasting legacy of improved public safety in Gabriel's name.