Scouts Employee to be Referred to Police Following Teen's Unlawful Death
The Scout Association could be investigated by police over whether it tried to pervert the course of justice after a teenager was killed on a hike.
Unlawful Killing
After a tragic incident resulting in the death of teenager Ben Leonard during a hiking trip in north Wales in 2018, the Scout Association may face scrutiny by law enforcement for potential obstruction of justice.
Ben Leonard, aged 16, lost his life while part of a group excursion to Llandudno's Great Orme, where he fell 200ft (60m) from cliffs.
A subsequent inquest found culpability on the part of a leader and their assistant for Ben's unlawful death, with the jury also implicating neglect by the Scout Association.
Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice
Despite the organization refuting any criminal wrongdoing, assistant coroner David Pojur referred both the Scouts and an unnamed employee to the police for investigation into possible conspiracy to obstruct justice.
North Wales Police confirmed they are reviewing the referral but declined further comment at this stage.
Statement from Leader of the Scout Association
The leader of The Scout Association has expressed his determination to reassure the parents of a deceased boy that measures will be taken to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Ben Leonard, aged 16, tragically fell from cliffs in Llandudno, Conwy, in August 2018. Matt Hyde, the chief executive of The Scout Association, addressed the inquest into Ben's death, emphasizing the importance of learning from the incident.
The organization has already acknowledged its responsibility for the boy's death during the Manchester inquest.
When questioned by the family's barrister, Bernard Richmond KC, about his own accountability in light of the investigation and inquest findings, Mr. Hyde reflected on the gravity of the situation and his commitment to the Leonard family.
"I've reflected deeply on this entire ordeal, especially the impact it has had on the Leonard family. I met with them in November 2021, and I made them a promise that I would do everything within my power to ensure that we learn from this tragedy and take necessary action," Mr. Hyde assured the jury.
He further stated, "It is my sincere intention to be able to face them, or any other parent, with the assurance that we have implemented the lessons learned to prevent such incidents from occurring again."
Emphasizing the organization's duty of care and the need to instill confidence in parents and young people, Mr. Hyde affirmed his unwavering commitment to fulfilling this responsibility diligently.
Deficiency in Risk Assessments
During the inquest proceedings, which were subject to reporting restrictions until the jury reached its verdict, evidence emerged revealing deficiencies in risk assessments and safety protocols surrounding the hiking trip.
The court heard that there had been no formal risk assessment conducted for the outing to Eryri national park, nor were on-the-day risk assessments carried out for the Great Orme excursion. Additionally, there was no designated Scout accredited first aider present.
Deep Regret
Jennie Price, representing the Scout Association's board of trustees, expressed deep regret over Ben's death and reiterated the organization's commitment to enhancing safety measures and training protocols in light of the incident.
Ben's mother, Jackie Leonard, described her son as "thoughtful, very funny, extremely witty" and expressed relief that the family could finally find closure after years of uncertainty. She criticized the Scouts for what she perceived as negligence and avoidance of accountability, calling for external regulation of the organization in light of the jury's verdict.
Following the verdict, she said, “Waiting so long for this verdict means we’ve lived in limbo for years. We’ve been unable to move forward, with the strange feeling that somehow Ben has not been allowed to die until we finally get a death certificate. Now he can be in peace. We’ve never had any faith or trust in the Scouts. This verdict must surely now mean they have to be regulated by an external body. We also feel that right at the beginning, the Scouts relied on the fact that we didn’t understand why we would need legal representation, particularly in our fog of grief. Normal people can’t necessarily afford the level of legal representation we’ve had throughout this inquest because there is no legal aid, and we were up against the enormity of the whole Scouts organisation.”