Calls have been made for the families of seven people killed in a 2016 Croydon tram crash to "receive justice" after it was announced nobody would be charged over the tragedy.
It was announced earlier today that the Crown Prosecution would not be charging the driver of the tram, nor against Tram Operations Limited and Transport for London.
Ben Posford is a partner at London law firm Osbornes Law which represents Andrzej Rynkiewicz whose wife Dorota died in the Croydon tram crash.
Mr Posford said: “This news will be devastating for many of the families, who assumed that the delay of almost three years meant charges might be brought at the end of the investigation. However, since the Rail Accident Investigation Branch reports into the crash were published within months of the accident, it was evident that investigators would struggle to find sufficient grounds to prosecute the driver of the tram with gross negligence manslaughter.
"Understandably the police wished to explore every avenue and gather potential evidence, but for the bereaved families the process has meant an interminable wait for answers as to what happened to their loved ones and why.
"We are days away from the three-year anniversary of the crash and what the family I represent wants, and have been asking for for many months, is an inquest. We need to understand why that corner of the track was not adequately risk assessed and get to the bottom of who made the decision not to install an automatic braking system. It is vital that the systemic failures that led to this tragic event are explored in an open and transparent process, so that answers are provided for the families of the bereaved, and lessons are learned for the future.”
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Sarah Jones, Member of Parliament for Croydon Central, added:
“"It's clear that something went horribly wrong to cause the Croydon tram crash. The families, who have shown huge strength for the past three years, deserve justice.
"This isn't the end of the process, it's important now that we see the coroner's inquiry which the families have called for.
"And beyond possible health and safety prosecutions, it's clear that there is a gap in the law which has made this investigation so complicated.
"I will be pushing for new laws to prosecute death by dangerous driving on tramways, to bring trams in line with the laws on our roads."
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