Police end investigation into blast that killed four

Four people died in an explosion at the water recycling centre on 3 December 2020

There is "insufficient evidence" for a manslaughter conviction over an explosion that killed four people at a water recycling centre, police have said.

Luke Wheaton, 16, Ray White, 57, Brian Vickery, 63 and Mike James, 64, died in the blast at the site in Avonmouth, Bristol, on 3 December 2020.

Avon and Somerset Police had been investigating the cause of the explosion to discover whether any individuals or organisations were responsible, as well as if any health and safety offences were committed.

Although the police investigation has now ended, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will continue to carry out enquiries to determine whether criminal offences were committed in the lead up to the incident.

'Extremely complex'

Det Ch Insp Mark Almond, from Avon and Somerset Police, said the families of the men who died had been regularly updated throughout the investigation.

"The families have demonstrated great dignity and patience while we carried out our enquiries and I’d like to publicly thank them for their support and understanding over the past three and a half years," he said.

“Inquiries of this kind are extremely complex and require the support of other agencies to gather evidence and then a variety of experts to help us interpret what that evidence tells us.

“In this case, the evidence we’ve gathered doesn’t reach the extremely high threshold to prosecute any criminal offence of manslaughter."

HSE investigation continues

The HSE will continue its own investigation to determine if criminal offences have been committed under health and safety laws.

Principal inspector, Simon Chilcott, said: “We have been a part of this complex inquiry from the outset.

"Now as the lead agency, we will continue to carry out a robust criminal investigation to establish if there have been any breaches of health and safety law.

“We are in regular contact with the families, with whom our thoughts remain.”