North West dad, campaigning for improved safety in multi-storey car parks meets new minister

A North West dad, campaigning for improved safety in multi-storey car parks, is 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 and the meeting with Samantha Dixon MP is the latest step in a campaign launched by Gabe’s dad Johnny in 2023 to change the law and prevent further deaths.

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 1.1m, and 24-hour onsite security.

Earlier this year, the Prime Minister 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 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 1.7m minimum, it’s also vital that there is 24-hour onsite security.”

Johnny is meeting the new Building Safety Minister, Samantha Dixon MP on 25^th November, with his MP Maria Eagle, as the new law would require a change in building regulations.