No charges over tunnel deaths

The teenagers were unlawfully killed, said the coroner

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said it will not bring charges against five police officers who were suspended following the deaths of two youths.

Darren Franey and Scott Veach, both aged 14, were killed when the stolen car they were travelling in crashed into a road block at the Liverpool exit of the Wallasey Tunnel under the River Mersey in 2002.

The CPS had taken a second look at the case after a coroner ruled the boys were unlawfully killed.

The five officers, who work for the Mersey Tunnel police force, are still suspended on full pay while Merseytravel - which runs the force - carries out an internal inquiry.

Merseytravel is also seeking a judicial review of the whole case and the first stage is due to take place at the High Court in London in November.

Families contacted

Coroner Andre Rebello had criticised the force, recommending that either the policing of the tunnel should be transferred to Merseyside Police, or tunnel officers should be trained to national policing standards.

A spokeswoman for the CPS said: "We are not advising prosecution in this case on the grounds that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute any of the officers for gross negligence manslaughter."

She said the CPS had contacted the victims' families, from Kensington, Liverpool, to explain the decision.

The spokeswoman added: "There was a full investigation by Merseyside Police supervised by the Police Complaints Authority."

A spokesman for Merseytravel said: "We have noted previously that these events hold lessons for all involved, for Merseytravel, for Merseyside police, and for the families of the deceased children."