Police officers have carried out new interviews in the criminal investigation into the fatal building collapse at Didcot Power Station, ahead of tomorrow’s eighth anniversary of the tragedy.
Four men – Michael Collings, Ken Cresswell, Christopher Huxtable and John Shaw – died after the boiler house at the disused coal-fired power plant in Oxfordshire collapsed prematurely on 23 February 2016.
Thames Valley Police is about to enter the ninth year of its investigation – now its longest-ever running investigation. No one has ever been charged or arrested in relation to the collapse.
But a spokesperson for the force told Construction News that it was continuing to look into corporate manslaughter, gross negligence, manslaughter and health and safety offences – and had recently made progress in securing crucial interviews relating to the case.
Deputy chief constable Ben Snuggs said: “This investigation is significant and complex with vast amounts of witness, digital and physical evidence, and we continue to make good progress with further suspect and key witness interviews.
“We are also in close liaison with the Crown Prosecution Service, and continue to provide appropriate updates to key stakeholders and interested parties.
“It is our responsibility and duty to investigate thoroughly, following all reasonable lines of enquiry and we will do everything we can to provide answers to the families.”
Snuggs also said that Thames Valley Police was “very conscious of the time it is taking to investigate” the circumstances around the collapse, adding that his thoughts remain with the families of the men who died.
Snuggs’ full comments, along with the thoughts of the families of the deceased, are included in a long-read about the Didcot Power Station collapse – and the wait for answers – published by CN ahead of the eighth anniversary of the tragedy on Friday (23 February).
View CN’s long-read about progress in the Didcot tragedy investigation
