Fire verdict brings call for tougher hostel laws

CAMPAIGNERS for the homeless called for tougher legislation on hostels after an inquest jury in Scarborough yesterday returned a verdict of unlawful killing on a 20- month-old child who died in a bedsit fire, writes Glenda Cooper.

Terri-Anne Jones, of Filey, North Yorkshire, died from smoke inhalation when she was locked in her room in the Hotel Richmond, a Department of Social Security hostel, last May. Katherine Harrison, 33, of Middleton, also died in the fire.

Ms Harrison's charred body was found in her bedroom where the blaze started, the inquest heard. The likely cause of death was material set alight by a cooker, and her ability to escape had been impaired by drink. The jury returned a verdict of misadventure.

A security alarm engineer told the inquest he had found batteries missing from fire alarms, bulbs missing from warning lights and faults in the emergency lighting.

The owner of the hostel, Richard Boddington, confirmed that Scarborough council had said work needed doing and pounds 44,000 was needed to upgrade the premises, although it had been granted a fire certificate as a hotel in 1981. He had applied for a grant in January but was told the maximum available was pounds 20,000.

The coroner said he would ask the Home Office to look urgently at the nature of such buildings. He said they should be licensed and put under 'real control'.