Balkwell case to parliament?

04 March 2010

Lee Balkwell

A SENIOR Government minister could soon face questions over the way police handled investigations into a man's death in a cement lorry.

Hornchurch MP James Brokenshire is calling for a Parliamentary debate to raise "significant concerns" over Essex Police's ability to brush off a watchdog's calls for a full-scale independent probe into how Lee Balkwell became crushed in a mixer in Upminster almost eight years ago.

He plans to table an adjournment debate to force the Home Office to answer some of the questions raised by Lee's father, who has lodged more than 90 complaints with the Independent Police Complaints Commission about Essex Police.

Les Balkwell, 63 - who has spent years and tens of thousands of pounds carrying out his own investigation in to his son's death in July 2002 on Baldwins Farm, in Dennises Lane - claims evidence has been destroyed, clues missed and the IPCC's efforts to investigate have been limited.

Mr Brokenshire said: "There are a number of significant concerns raised by this case which have wide implications for the way investigations into police complaints are carried out.

"They centre on a police force's ability to ignore the recommendations of a watchdog and also refuse to explain that decision.

"If there is a genuine reason for ignoring the IPCC, the police should have to explain that."

Refused

In August 2009, the IPCC called for an external force to re-examine the circumstances surrounding the death of the Elm Park father-of-one. But Essex Police refused and instead allowed the West Midlands force to probe only their investigation.

The IPCC had earlier said the original police investigation was seriously flawed.

Mr Brokenshire added: "I hope to secure the independent external reinvestigation of this case. We need to look at the powers and independence of the IPCC to follow through on its recommendations.

"We need this case to reach some sort of conclusion. There are many questions which need to be resolved for Les to get any closure."

Les, of Abbs Cross Lane, Hornchurch, said: "This is a big step forward. This issue needs to go to the top people in Government. Mr Brokenshire has worked with us on this case for more than five years. He doesn't act without checking his facts and he realises there is something desperately wrong with this situation.

"We'd never have got this far without his help.