Latest news with #HarryParkerBill
Sky News
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Tougher laws on unlicensed drivers to be considered after Sky News report
Why you can trust Sky News The government will look to introduce tougher laws on unlicensed drivers as part of its forthcoming road safety strategy, Sky News understands. It comes after Sky News reported on the story of Harry Parker, who was just 14-years-old when he was hit and killed by a car on his way to his Swindon school in November 2022. The driver of the car did not have a licence, insurance, or stop at the scene. But two years after Harry's death, the Crown Prosecution Service told his parents it was dropping the charges. It said: "We examined this case in great detail - including obtaining the advice of a forensic collision expert - and it has become clear that there is not enough evidence to demonstrate that this collision could reasonably have been avoided, and therefore that the driving was careless." His parents' local MP, Will Stone, received permission from the Commons on Tuesday to introduce the Road Traffic (unlicensed drivers) Bill, that he referred to in his speech in the chamber as the "Harry Parker Bill". The bill would make causing death while driving without a licence or insurance a specific criminal offence after previous legislation became effectively redundant. Labour MP Mr Stone made a speech setting out the case for changing the law in parliament on Tuesday as part of a Ten Minute Rule Bill - a motion to seek MPs' permission to introduce a bill to make the case for a new law. "The law in its current form is failing," he said. "A person who does not hold a valid license has no business being behind the wheel of a car. And when they do so, they put lives at risk. "I cannot bring back Harry, nor can I give Adam and Kelly the justice that they deserve. No legislation, no speech, no court ruling will ever be able to ease their pain. What we must do is ensure that no other family has to endure what they have been through. "The Harry Parker Bill seeks to close the dangerous gaps in our legal system and impose real world consequences on those who choose to drive without a license. Those who choose to drive without a valid license will be deemed careless." MPs voted to progress the bill to be debated as part of the next stage of the parliamentary process. It is rare for a backbench Ten Minute Rule Bill to become legislation. But Sky News now understands the government is going to adopt the Harry Parker Bill as part of its forthcoming new Road Safety Strategy. Harry's parents, Adam and Kelly Parker, travelled to Westminster to watch the Ten Minute Rule Bill from the public gallery. "It was a bit surreal," said Mr Parker. "When he actually read it out I just started crying, I welled up. It made it very, very real, how far we're actually taking this, and it showed that people are actually really listening. It's comforting." There is no current national data on the number of unlicensed drivers, though past research by the Department for Transport estimated they commit 9.3% - or nearly 1 in 10 - of all motoring offences. It was thought there could be as many as 470,000 on the roads. In 2006, the Labour government introduced a new offence of causing death while driving without a licence or insurance, punishable by up to two years in prison. But in 2013 the Supreme Court ruled that, due to the way the legislation was worded, prosecutors still had to prove the driving was at fault - thus rendering the new law fairly redundant, as a driver could then be charged by careless or dangerous driving. The judges were concerned about otherwise faultless unlicensed drivers being charged if a drunk pedestrian fell into the road in front of them, or if someone attempted suicide by jumping out into the road. The Department of Transport said: "Every death on our roads is a tragedy and our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Harry Parker.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tougher laws on unlicensed drivers to be considered after Sky News report
The government will look to introduce tougher laws on unlicensed drivers as part of its forthcoming road safety strategy, Sky News understands. It comes after , who was just 14-years-old when he was hit and killed by a car on his way to his Swindon school in November 2022. The driver of the car did not have a licence, insurance, or stop at the two years after Harry's death, the Crown Prosecution Service told his parents it was dropping the charges. It said: "We examined this case in great detail - including obtaining the advice of a forensic collision expert - and it has become clear that there is not enough evidence to demonstrate that this collision could reasonably have been avoided, and therefore that the driving was careless." His parents' local MP, Will Stone, received permission from the Commons on Tuesday to introduce the Road Traffic (unlicensed drivers) Bill, that he referred to in his speech in the chamber as the "Harry Parker Bill". The bill would make causing death while driving without a licence or insurance a specific criminal offence after previous legislation became effectively redundant. Labour MP Mr Stone made a speech setting out the case for changing the law in parliament on Tuesday as part of a Ten Minute Rule Bill - a motion to seek MPs' permission to introduce a bill to make the case for a new law. "The law in its current form is failing," he said. "A person who does not hold a valid license has no business being behind the wheel of a car. And when they do so, they put lives at risk. "I cannot bring back Harry, nor can I give Adam and Kelly the justice that they deserve. No legislation, no speech, no court ruling will ever be able to ease their pain. What we must do is ensure that no other family has to endure what they have been through. "The Harry Parker Bill seeks to close the dangerous gaps in our legal system and impose real world consequences on those who choose to drive without a license. Those who choose to drive without a valid license will be deemed careless." MPs voted to progress the bill to be debated as part of the next stage of the parliamentary process. It is rare for a backbench Ten Minute Rule Bill to become legislation. But Sky News now understands the government is going to adopt the Harry Parker Bill as part of its forthcoming new Road Safety Strategy. Harry's parents, Adam and Kelly Parker, travelled to Westminster to watch the Ten Minute Rule Bill from the public gallery. "It was a bit surreal," said Mr Parker. "When he actually read it out I just started crying, I welled up. It made it very, very real, how far we're actually taking this, and it showed that people are actually really listening. It's comforting." There is no current national data on the number of unlicensed drivers, though past research by the Department for Transport estimated they commit 9.3% - or nearly 1 in 10 - of all motoring offences. It was thought there could be as many as 470,000 on the roads. In 2006, the Labour government introduced a new offence of causing death while driving without a licence or insurance, punishable by up to two years in prison. But in 2013 the Supreme Court ruled that, due to the way the legislation was worded, prosecutors still had to prove the driving was at fault - thus rendering the new law fairly redundant, as a driver could then be charged by careless or dangerous driving. The judges were concerned about otherwise faultless unlicensed drivers being charged if a drunk pedestrian fell into the road in front of them, or if someone attempted suicide by jumping out into the road. The Department of Transport said: "Every death on our roads is a tragedy and our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Harry Parker. "The government takes road safety seriously, and we are committed to reducing the number of those killed and injured on our roads."
BBC News
04-02-2025
- BBC News
Harry Parker: MP seeks to close 'loophole' after schoolboy killed
An MP has introduced a new bill in a bid change road safety laws after the death of a 14-year-old Parker died after being hit by a car while walking to Nova Hreod Academy in Swindon in November driver, Ivy Mwangi, was cleared of the charges due to a lack of evidence, even though she was unlicensed, had no insurance and initially left the North MP Will Stone said he introduced the Harry Parker Bill to address a "dangerous gap" in the law which prevented Ms Mwangi facing a lesser charge as so much time had passed. Ms Mwangi was initially charged with causing death by careless driving and causing death while driving without a licence after the fatal incident on Akers the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped the charges in November 2024 due to a lack of evidence. Harry's parents Adam and Kelly were then informed that no further charges would be brought against Ms Mwangi, as the lesser charge of driving unlicensed is classified as a summary offense, meaning charges must be brought within six months of the in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Mr Stone questioned how someone can "drive illegally, take a life, and yet face no legal consequences".He also questioned why knowingly operating a vehicle without a license is not "automatically" seen as careless or dangerous Stone said he wanted to correct the "flawed" system to ensure no other family has to go through what Harry's family have. 'Absolutely crazy' Following the bill's successful passage in the first reading, Harry's parents expressed cautious optimism, but also frustration at the law as it stands."We're doing this because we don't want any other parent to go through what we are going through," they said."No driver should be able to walk free with no license, [committing] a hit-and-run and causing death – its absolutely crazy."We're not the only unfortunate people this has happened to and we will not stop until we get some justice In one way or another form."It feels like the ball is actually rolling and in the right direction [but] we shouldn't have to be fighting for justice for our son – we shouldn't have to keep on fighting and it looks like we're going to be doing this for many years."Campaigners hope the bill will be incorporated into the government's forthcoming road safety strategy.
