Serco fined more than £2m for failures that led to custody officer death

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Our mum was a wonderful loving supportive mother to myself, my brother and her two granddaughters whom she adored and loved, and they adored her Louise Grennan, Lorraine Barwell’s daughter Among the failings, he said there was “insufficient” availability of court custody officers, an issue that had been raised with management “on numerous occasions”. He concluded: “I am satisfied that had it not been for Serco’s breach of duty towards its employees, Lorraine Barwell would not have died in the circumstances in which she did at Blackfriars Crown Court on June 29 2015.” The judge said the impact of Ms Barwell’s death was “all too evident” from reading a statement from her family. That has all gone now.” Everyone in Serco was deeply shocked and saddened when Lorraine was fatally assaulted by Humphrey Burke in 2015 and we continue to send our deepest condolences to her family and friends Anthony Kirby, Serco UK & Europe HSE inspector Helen Donnelly said: “Serco drastically failed in their duties to protect both Lorraine Barwell and other staff over a sustained period. “We thank the Health and Safety Executive for all of their hard work in bringing this prosecution and bringing Serco to account.” Kate Maynard, partner at Hickman and Rose, said: “The findings of the court today, to the criminal standard, that Serco caused Lorraine Barwell’s death, are a vindication of the family’s fight for accountability over the years.