LEGAL campaigners have slammed loopholes in the inquest system as a “systemic scandal” and called for an independent body to ensure recommendations are implemented.

The Inquest charity campaigns to stop deaths in custody and said coroners’ Prevention of Future Death (PFD) reports were not legally enforceable.

Richard Caseby’s 23-year-old son, Matthew, died hours after escaping over a fence at Birmingham’s Priory Hospital Woodbourne in 2020 when he was left unattended.