'Car parks must be safer after my son's fatal fall'

The mother of a man who died falling from a multi-storey car park after taking ketamine says she feels her son "means nothing" to ministers.

Natasha Perry, from Liverpool, whose son Joshua, 21, died in March 2025, said she was disappointed there had been "no progress" in a campaign to raise the legal minimum height of car park barriers from 1.1m (3ft7) to 2.7m (8ft10).

It was launched by Jonny Santer, whose son Gabriel, 15, fell to his death from a Liverpool car park in 2020. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed in July the government would review the proposals but since then Jonny said he had "heard nothing".

The government did not respond to the concerns when contacted by the BBC.

Bootle MP Peter Dowd and Liverpool Garston MP Maria Eagle have co-sponsored the Multi-Storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill, which would increase the minimum height of barriers on the sides of car parks to 2.7m (8ft10).

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government pointed the BBC towards comments made by Starmer in the House of Commons in July when he said the government would "look at the contents" of the bill and issue a call for evidence.

"It's like there's two speeds (in government) – slow and stop", Natasha said, adding that "it hurts as well, because if it was their child I think it'd be changed instantly".

Joshua Perry was fatally injured when he fell 19 floors from a city centre car park in Liverpool in March 2025.

The coroner at his inquest concluded it was "not clear" whether he had intended to take his own life.

The inquest heard he had consumed ketamine before his death which was "consistent with moderate excessive use" and this "more likely than not influenced Joshua's functioning".

Natasha said Joshua was "bubbly, he had the biggest smile, everyone loved him".

She added: "As soon as he walked into a room he lit it up... everywhere he went he was loved by everyone."

Natasha said his family were "all heartbroken" following his death.

Joshua had been in rehab for ketamine addiction but, Natasha said, had relapsed in the days before he died.

"He'd come so far, and I said 'This drug will kill you'. It was killing him."

Natasha said she had viewed CCTV of her son in the car park in which he appeared "unsteady on his feet" and she knew he had "stumbled" before he fell.

"Being intoxicated as Josh was, did (he) think that he was somewhere else? He was hallucinating on the drug."

Jonny said he was "still waiting" for the government to launch the call for evidence about the new legislation that the prime minister had promised last year.

"It's not quick enough," he said, adding that it was "absolutely devastating" to read about "all the other deaths that occur across the country from this one issue, and it's such a simple easy fix".

"It's like they mean nothing, that's how I feel," Natasha said, adding: "If there was no cost things would get changed and maybe my son would still be here now.

"I don't want any other family to go through what we're going through. It's all cost - and do you know much it hurts to say the cost is more important than your child?"

Natasha said she was "annoyed" that there was an inconsistent picture of progress, with some car parks introducing safety measures but others making what she regarded as minimal changes.

In response to the death of Jay Farley, 26, who fell from the The Strand shopping centre car park in 2023, Sefton Council has installed new fencing which covers the full height of the side walls on each storey.

Jay's sister-in-law, Michelle Ferguson, told the BBC the council "were amazing".

"They couldn't do enough and went above and beyond and acted upon my requests and more," she said.

Natasha said "one car park in Bootle can do changes straight away because one family have gone through what we're going through" while the car park where her son died "is a far bigger car park which brings more money in" but "can't put anything in place except some posters and some lighting - that's not going to save any lives".

When the BBC visited the car park in Liverpool where Joshua died, run by ParkBee, posters had been placed on the wall directing people with suicidal thoughts to call the Samaritans.

Jonny said the "contrast" between Sefton Council "taking the issue extremely seriously" and private car park operators "couldn't be more stark".

"They just want to shut you down, they've allowed additional preventable deaths to happen," he said.

Natasha said: "If there was no cost, things would get changed and maybe my son would still be here now."

Isaac Occhipinti, from the British Parking Association (BPA) which represents private parking operators, told the BBC "every reasonable step must be taken to minimise risks associated with parking structures".

"Parking operators already take this responsibility very seriously, working within established safety frameworks and adhering to clear standards set out in building regulations," he said.

Occhipinti said the BPA "welcomed the opportunity" to engage with its members and the government "on how any new measures could be implemented effectively".

Liverpool and Wirral area coroner Helen Rimmer wrote to the government after Josh's inquest about a "conflict" between the wording in some of the guidelines that govern the minimum height of car park barriers, which she said "requires resolution and may prevent future deaths".

The government has not yet responded to Rimmer's concerns.

ParkBee have not responded to the BBC's request for a comment.

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