Consumer safety lawyer joins calls for thorough investigation after two deaths from high rise flats
Tina Patel from Leigh Day's consumer law and product safety team has joined calls to establish whether or not there is a link between two child fatalities following two separate incidents involving falls from high-rise windows.
Posted on 11 November 2019
A leading consumer safety lawyer has joined calls for a thorough investigation into allegations relating to faulty windows after two children died in separate incidents after falling from London tower blocks.
The first incident involved an 18 month boy who fell from the ninth floor of a block of flats in Tottenham, north London on 31 October 2019.
According to reports, his mother had allegedly reported a fault with the window handle to the Council repeatedly over several months before the tragedy occurred at the block of flats managed by Homes for Haringey on behalf of Haringey Council.
Another young boy tragically fell from the fourth floor window of a building in Harrow, north west London on what is believed to have been his third birthday on 6 November 2019.
One resident has reported to the media that the window catches in the building were ‘very flimsy’.
It is not known who owns or manages the building where the incident occurred however a Scotland Yard spokesman said no-one has been arrested and inquiries continue into the incident.
Tina Patel, a consumer safety lawyer has said:
“Whilst the full circumstances surrounding these incidents are not yet known, we believe that a thorough investigation is needed to establish whether there are any links between these two tragic cases.
“If it is shown that a problem with defective windows was responsible for both deaths, then steps need to be taken urgently to prevent further tragedies.
“Whilst not pre-judging the outcome of these investigations, it is important to raise awareness of window safety for the thousands of individuals living in these high rise flats across the UK.
“Windows in these buildings must meet the highest safety standards and they should be continually maintained. Any problems reported should be dealt with urgently by building owners and landlords, who have a very clear duty of care to all those that live in their properties."