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Council guilty plea over boys’ pool deaths
Barnet Council has pleaded guilty to a breach of health and safety laws in relation to the drowning of best friends Gameli Akuklu and William Kadama at Hendon Police training school four years ago.
The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) and the Metropolitan Police also appeared at the City of London Magistrates' Court on Monday charged with the same offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The Met pleaded not guilty while the MPA did not enter a plea.
Gameli and William, both 14, were discovered lying at the bottom of the pool at the Peel Centre, Aerodrome Road, Hendon, on July 30, 2002. They were attending a summer holiday activity day organised by the police and council.
Councillor Mike Freer, leader of the council, said: "The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has accepted that the council was not responsible for the tragic deaths of the two teenagers at the Metropolitan Police's Peel Centre swimming pool in July 2002.
"Barnet Council accepts that some administrative procedures were not followed, however these did not in any way contribute to the tragedy."
The council pleaded guilty because it did not make a formal risk assessment or a formal register of the swimming ability of those on the placement, though both were done informally on the day. Gameli and William are reported to have been strong swimmers but banged hands when jumping off the pool's diving board.
Mr Freer said: "Barnet Council was greatly shocked and saddened by the tragic incident involving Gameli and William. It has expressed sympathy and condolences both privately and publicly and remains committed to sparing the families of Gameli and William any further anguish."
Barnet Police Constable Danny Phillips was the only lifeguard on duty in charge of the 29 youngsters on the day and was charged with gross negligence, manslaughter and breaching a health and safety law.
The HSE case against the MPA, the Met and Barnet Council comes after PC Phillips, 42, was acquitted of all charges in June this year.
A spokeswoman for the MPA said: "The MPA is awaiting clarification from the HSE of the precise charge against the MPA. Until then we are not in a position to enter a plea."
Since the drowning Barnet Council said it had improved health and safety.
Mr Freer said: "Since July 2002, there is a tighter control of visits to facilities such as the Peel Centre. The youth service policy has been revised and now requires such trips to be expressly sanctioned by a member of the Youth Service management team who checks that risk assessments address all significant risks."
The penalty, likely to be a fine, will be fixed at the Old Bailey. The case against the MPA and MPS will be heard in due course at the Old Bailey in a criminal trial. No date has been set.
5:54am Saturday 7th October 2006
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