News, Oxford
The investigation into the deaths of four men in the collapse at Didcot Power Station nine years ago is moving “towards the latter stages”, police have said.
On 23 February 2016 part of the old boiler house at the Didcot A plant collapsed, killing Ken Cresswell, John Shaw, Michael Collings and Christopher Huxtable.
Demolition News editor Mark Anthony said it was “a national disgrace” that their families were still waiting for answers.
Thames Valley Police said its joined investigation with the Health and Safety Executive “continues to make meaningful progress”.
The force said it was “actively investigating” offences of corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter and Health and Safety at Work Act offences.
It took more than six months for the men’s bodies to be recovered and family members of the victims previously said they were finding waiting for the investigation to conclude “really hard”.
Last year, Mr Anthony started a petition calling for a pubic inquiry into the time it has taken.
“Unfortunately, it is not without precedent,” he said, comparing it to the investigations into Hillsborough and Grenfell.
“There’s been no pressure from the Home Office or the home secretary to make the police at Thames Valley… get everything resolved any quicker.”
“To date, the investigation team has collated and analysed over 6,500 exhibits, 90,000 images, and 230,000 digital media artefacts,” Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs said.
“Over 180 hours of video recorded witness and suspect interviews have been conducted, in addition to the 2,812 statements taken.”
He said while “a specific timeframe” for its conclusion could not be specified, they were “confident that we are moving towards the latter stages” of enquiries.
“Our officers continue to provide regular updates to the families on the investigation progress, as well as to the Crown Prosecution Service.”
Mr Anthony said: “The entire demolition world is looking to the UK, Thames Valley Police and the Health and Safety Executive for some answers, so that they can send in men and women to work safely.
“And nine years later, we still can’t do that.”
Olly Glover, the newly elected MP for Didcot and Wantage, said he was “putting pressure” on the police to make progress.
“But also the investigation does need to be allowed to conclude in a way that gets all of the evidence to the surface,” he said.
Site owner RWE Power said “Our thoughts remain with the families of the four men who died in this tragic incident.
“We continue to cooperate fully with Thames Valley Police.”
The Home Office said it would not comment while the investigation was ongoing.
