Car park safety campaign meeting planned

Gabe Santer's father to meet building safety minister will discuss Multi-Storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill

A father whose son died by falling from a multi-storey car park will be in Westminster next week to meet the new building safety minister.

15-year-old Gabe Santer died after falling from the roof of a car park in Liverpool in 2020, His dad, Johnny, has been running a campaign to change the law and prevent further deaths.

Jonny Santer has worked with MPs Angele Eagle and Peter Dowd to introduce a Private Member's Bill on the issue to Parliament.

The Multi-Storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill, to be known as ‘Gabe’s Law’, calls for an increase to the legal minimum height of the perimeter edge throughout multi-storey car parks, currently 1.1-metre, and 24-hour on-site security. 

Earlier this year, prime minister Kier Starmer agreed to look at the Bill’s contents after a question from Peter Dowd MP, who says there have been similar tragic cases in his Bootle constituency and elsewhere in the UK.

Johnny Santer will be meeting the building safety minister Samantha Dixon MP on 25 November with his MP Maria Eagle as the new law would require a change in building regulations.

He said: “I’m hoping the minister will have further details following Sir Keir Starmer’s call for evidence on building regulation Part K which looks at minimum guarding heights.

“These are preventable deaths and other families have been in touch with their own tragic stories of loved ones who have died or suffered life-changing injuries in similar circumstances to Gabe.

“All the evidence shows that making simple changes to structures and places which are easily accessible and attractive to people who may be thinking of taking their own lives can prevent deaths.

“I don’t believe multi-storey car parks are safe places and as well as the perimeter edge being increased to 1.7-metre minimum, it’s also vital that there is 24-hour onsite security.”

The Multi-Storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill, to be known as Gabe’s Law, was introduced to Parliament in 2023 by Maria Eagle. With the change of government in 2024, the Bill was presented to Parliament on 17 June by Peter Dowd MP.