PC faces manslaughter charges over youths pool deaths

PC Danny Phillips, 42, of the London Metropolitan Police's human resources directorate is to face manslaughter charges following the deaths of two school children in July 2002. He also faces charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Gameli Akuklu and William Kadama, both 14, were taking part in the Splash playscheme, run jointly by Barnet Council and the police

at the Met's Hendon facilities in North London. They were discovered unconscious underwater in the facility's swimming pool and were pulled out by a lifeguard.

Gameli, a pupil at St Mary's Church of England School in Barnet, was taken to Northwick Park Hospital where he was pronounced dead. William was declared dead several days later at Great Ormond Street Hospital after doctors decided to switch off his life support machine.

The Crown Prosecution Service had considered bringing charges against eight other people - a police sergeant, two members of police staff, one of whom is now retired, and five other civilian employees but finally recommended that no action be taken against them.

Speaking as the families lawyer, Harriet Territs said: "The families welcome the fact that there is a public hearing, but they firmly believe you always have to look at the organisations involved, it's not enough to look at the individuals. For them, it's not a justice issue, it's about making sure it doesn't happen again and that has got to start with the organisations. It's a case of whether they, the organisations, should also be held accountable and responsible and really we are just waiting for a decision on that."

PC Phillips will be tried at the Old Bailey.