There is no mechanism to make sure improvements have been made by MI5 after they made “mistakes” over the Manchester Arena bombing, the chairman of the inquiry has said.
Sir John Saunders said there is no agreement on how to monitor secret recommendations he made to improve how the security service and counter-terrorism police operate.
The investigation into the 2017 attack that killed 22 people and injured hundreds more began in September 2020.
The chairman warned that a hearing last month revealed that work on some of his recommendations – first made in November last year – was “only getting started”.
He said if the hearing had not happened “work would not have started at all”.
His “closed” report has been considered by MI5 and Counter Terrorism Policing who “accepted that mistakes were made”, but the issue of monitoring the recommendations “remains outstanding”.
The chairman added that it was important for the public and, particularly, the bereaved families, that reports on progress should be made in a public forum in order to have “public accountability”.
His comments follow those of Richard Caseby, whose son Matthew Caseby died after escaping from in-patient treatment at a Priory hospital.
Mr Caseby launched a campaign last week for inquest recommendations to be monitored.
In Sir John’s last report in March, he said MI5 had missed a “significant opportunity” to collect “actionable intelligence” when Salman Abedi, the bomber, returned to Manchester from Libya, four days before the bombing.
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The bereaved families have pointed to missed opportunities to follow up the 7/7 bombers before their attack and said improvements must be made.
Read more:
Manchester Arena bombing: Survivor seeking help ‘retraumatised’
Bombing survivor told to view attack as ‘positive experience’
The chairman has now suggested monitoring by the parliamentary intelligence and security committee (ISC) which has a copy of the secret report or by Sir Brian Leveson, the Investigatory Powers Commissioner.
As a final alternative, the chairman said he and his team would be prepared to carry out the monitoring by reconvening for a day to hold a meeting with MI5 and Counter Terrorism Policing to check on progress, without receiving payment.
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Sir John also criticised the Department of Health for failing to introduce a scheme to check the qualifications of first aiders at major sports and music events.
Work was continuing on reducing the effect of the so-called “care gap” in which the public is left to cope with severe injuries following a major incident while the ambulance service determines whether it is safe to respond.
