Council guilty after drownings

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Health and safety was breached when two boys drowned in a swimming pool at a police training school in north London, a council has admitted.

Barnet Council pleaded guilty to the breach after the deaths of Gameli Akuklu and William Kadama, both 14, at the pool in Hendon, in July 2002.

The Metropolitan Police (Met) denied the same charge, and the Metropolitan Police Authority did not enter a plea.

Representatives from all three bodies appeared at City of London Magistrates.

They are accused of failing to ensure the safety of the two friends.

Play scheme

Lifeguard PC Danny Philips was cleared of the boys' manslaughter in June.

Gameli and William, who were on a play scheme activity day, were pulled from the pool by a lifeguard after being discovered unconscious underwater.

William, from Grahame Park, near Edgware in north London, was declared dead several days later when his life support machine was switched off.

Gameli, from Colindale in north London and a pupil at St Mary's Church of England School in Barnet, was taken to Northwick Park Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Pc Phillips, 42, the only lifeguard on duty, was cleared of manslaughter charges after a trial in June this year.

Barnet Council will be sentenced at the Old Bailey at a later date.

The case against the Met and the MPA will also be heard at the Old Bailey at a date to be set.