Gabriel Santer was just 15 when he died after falling from the top of the Q Park multi-story car parkJohnny Santer and his son Gabriel, who died after falling from a multi-story car park in LiverpoolJohnny Santer and his son Gabriel, who died after falling from a multi-story car park in Liverpool

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said “we are listening” in response to calls for a change in the law after the tragic death of a much-loved Liverpool teenager. Gabriel Santer was just 15 when he died after falling from the top of the Q Park multi-story car park in Hanover Street in October 2020.

Since his son’s devastating death, Gabriel’s dad Johnny Santer has been campaigning for a change in the law around the height of safety barriers on the top floors of multi-story car parks. He feels his son’s death and many others could have been prevented if these barriers were higher.

Current laws state that the pedestrian edge restraints at multi-story car parks must reach a height of just 1.1m. Johnny has repeatedly told car park operators that while they may be operating within the law, their failure to raise the height of these barriers may be contributing to more people falling to their deaths.

The law he is campaigning for is known as Gabe’s Law, named after his son, who was known to many as Gabe. The law would see the minimum legal height of guarding at multi-story car parks increase from 1.1m to 2.7m.

Keir Starmer was asked about the campaign for Gabe's Law during a visit to the ECHO office Keir Starmer was asked about the campaign for Gabe’s Law during a visit to the ECHO office (Image: Iain Watts/Liverpool Echo)

The proposed Multi-Storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill – to give its full title – was first put forward in Parliament by Johnny’s local MP Maria Eagle but is now being led on by Bootle MP Peter Dowd, who recently raised the matter at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs).

Sir Keir is in Liverpool this week for his party’s annual conference and on Saturday he visited the ECHO office to speak to local school pupils about a range of topics. He also sat down to face questions from the ECHO.

As part of this, we asked him about the campaign for Gabe’s Law and whether his government can look at the change that Johnny and others are calling for.

Responding, the Prime Minister said: “Yes we can look at it. We need to find the right vehicle, the right way to do whatever can be done.

“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 added: “We need to find the right way to do it but certainly we are listening.”

Mental health support

Helplines and support groups

The following are helplines and support networks for people to talk to, mostly listed on the NHS Choices website

  • Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.
  • CALM Campaign Against Living Miserably (0800 58 58 58) is a leading movement against suicide. It runs a UK helpline and webchat from 5pm to midnight 365 days a year for anyone who has hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support.
  • PANDAS (0808 1961 776) runs a free helpline and offers a support service for people who may be suffering with perinatal mental illness, including prenatal (antenatal) and postnatal depression plus support for their family or network.
  • Childline (0800 1111) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill.
  • PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is an organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.
  • Mind (0300 123 3393) is a charity providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
  • Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts.
  • Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying.
  • Amparo provides emotional and practical support for anyone who has been affected by a suicide. This includes dealing with police and coroners; helping with media enquiries; preparing for and attending an inquest and helping to access other, appropriate, local support services. Call 0330 088 9255 or visit www.amparo.org.uk for more details.
  • Hub of Hope is the UK’s most comprehensive national mental health support database. Download the free app, visit hubofhope.co.uk or text SHOUT to 85258 to find relevant services near you.
  • Young Persons Advisory Service – Providing mental health and emotional wellbeing services for Liverpool’s children, young people and families. tel: 0151 707 1025 email: support@ypas.org.uk
  • Paul’s Place – providing free counselling and group sessions to anyone living in Merseyside who has lost a family member or friend to suicide. Tel: 0151 226 0696 or email: paulsplace@beaconcounsellingtrust.co.uk
  • The Martin Gallier Project – offering face to face support for individuals considering suicide and their families. Opening hours 9.30-16.30, 7 days a week. Tel: 0151 644 0294 email: triage@gallierhouse.co.uk
  • James’ Place – supports men over 18 who are experiencing a suicidal crisis by providing quick access to therapy and support. Call 0151 303 5757 from Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 5.30pm or visit https://www.jamesplace.org.uk/

Reacting to the Prime Minister’s comments, Johnny Santer said: “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, as we are approaching the five year anniversary of Gabriel’s preventable death.

“Our focus now is connecting with other families and communities nationally, as we have done locally, raising awareness about the issue and getting more institutional and organisational support, following in the footsteps of Liverpool City Council.”

Johnny Santer and his son Gabriel, who died after falling from a multi-story car park in Liverpool Johnny Santer and his son Gabriel, who died after falling from a multi-story car park in Liverpool

But Gabriel’s dad said he is deeply concerned to have seen multiple Prevention of Future Death reports issued by coroners around the country – and in Liverpool specifically – related to people dying after falling from multi-story car parks. He added: “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, as we have witnessed at least six times here in Liverpool alone since 2020.”

He added: “We are looking forward to meeting with the new Minister for Housing and Building Safety, Samantha Dixon MP after Peter Dowd MP was able to originally table a question to the PM back in early July.”

Mr Dowd added: “I’m really pleased that the Prime Minister has reiterated his continued commitment to a way forward in relation to Gabe’s Law. I will engage with any one or any organisation to enable this much needed law to be implemented”.