07/07/06 - Letter from Peter Coltman

Essex Police
PO Box 2, Headquarters,
Springfield, Chelmsford,
Essex CM2 6DA

Telephone 01245 491491
Website: www.essex.police.uk
Facsimile: 01245 452259

01245 452710

7th July 2006.

Dear Mr Balkwell

Following our meeting and the more recent conversations on the telephone, as agreed I have completed my report on the intelligence and areas of complaint you raised and this has been considered by Chief Officers. From this the following decisions have been made.

The intelligence and other information which relates to the tragic death of your son have been recorded and will be investigated. A Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Garness, who has not had any previous involvement with the case, will be responsible for considering how this intelligence impacts upon what is already known and, where appropriate, how it can be developed into evidence. I would anticipate the SIO or someone from his team contacting you in due course. During this investigation it is important that every potential line of enquiry is looked at, and this includes the evidence which may be available from Tachonet. I would urge you to enable this to be pursued.

In respect of the areas of complaint, the discrepancy you raise about members of the Essex and London fire service who were present at the scene but have not been interviewed will be re-examined. It is the investigating officer's belief that all those who attended have been interviewed but it is important that we establish, once and for all, if this is correct.If you are aware of the identity of any fire fighter who has not been interviewed, please let me or the SIO know.

The other matters you raise are considered to be part of the original complaint and have been investigated, although I acknowledge that this has, regrettably, not been to your satisfaction. Whilst I have a duty to record any new complaints, these matter have been dealt with.

I hope that I have been able to progress the real cause of your dissatisfaction, the investigation into your son's death. Once again I offer my condolences for you tragic loss.

Yours sincerely

Peter Coltman
Head of Professional Standards Department.