SEARCH RESULTS

Full letter...... Dear Parliamentarians, We are not writing as activists or advocates. We are writing as mothers and fathers whose children are no longer here. We are writing as parents who wake up every day to a silence that should not exist, who go to bed knowing there will be no goodnight, no laughter, no future with the child we raised and loved. The decision by MPs not to raise the age limit for harmful social media platforms to 16 was not just disappointing; it was devastating. The Government's offer, a consultation with no binding commitment and no fixed endpoint, is not an answer to a problem that has already claimed too many young lives. We have already lost our children. We cannot accept a process that risks losing more as discussions continue. We have watched technology companies fight every attempt at meaningful reform. We know how they operate. We know how easily protections are delayed, diluted or quietly dropped when there is no firm legislative commitment. We are also deeply concerned about the consultation itself. It was announced at the eleventh hour, in the days before your previous vote. It proposes an expert panel of academics but leaves little or no space for those on the frontline, those who see the consequences every single day, such as GPs, police officers and others dealing with the reality of harm as it unfolds. Beyond this, the Government is seeking powers that would allow future measures to be introduced with little or no opportunity for you, as elected representatives, to scrutinise or challenge them. We cannot ignore what this means. It means there is a real risk of half-measures. Measures that sound like action, but do not prevent harm. Measures that will not stop other families from becoming like ours, families who are left desperately sad and broken forever. And if those measures are passed in this way, you may not have the chance to stop them. More parents will lose their children in circumstances that could and should have been prevented. And while others move on, we are the ones left behind, serving a life sentence without our children. More families will sit in rooms filled with their child’s belongings, knowing they will never be used again. More birthdays will become anniversaries. And right now, across the UK, parents are not waiting for consultations or future reviews. They are watching their children scroll, message and engage on platforms they know are not safe. They are trying to set boundaries without the support of the law. They are fearful, overwhelmed and doing their best to protect their children in a system that is not designed to help them. They are asking you. They are pleading with you to act now. To give them something they do not currently have: the ability to say no, backed by law the ability to protect their children before harm happens, not after You voted for change in January, and you were right to do so. Lord Nash’s cross-party amendment provides time for implementation, involves the Chief Medical Officer, and represents a careful, considered and credible path forward. It is a commitment to act. That commitment is what is missing from the Government’s position. We are left with bedrooms that remain untouched, phones that will never light up again, and questions that will never be answered. We are not here because this is our profession. We are here because this is our reality. And we are asking you, with everything we have left, to act so that other parents do not have to live it too. Please vote today to reject the Government’s amendments. Please vote for Lord Nash’s cross-party amendment. Please vote to raise the age. Yours sincerely, Ellen Roome MBE (Mother of Jools Sweeney) and co-signed by the following bereaved parents: Amanda Stephens (Mother of Olly Stephens) Areti Nicolaou (Mother of Christoforos) Beth Layton (Mother to Elsa Layton-Jones) Eliza Gabb (Mother of Sky Gabb) Esther Ghey (Mother of Brianna Ghey) George Nicolaou (Father of Christoforos) Hollie Dance (Mother of Archie Battersbee) Ian Banyard (Father to Lacey Banyard) Lisa Kenevan (Mother of Isaac Kenevan) Lorin LaFave (Mother of Breck Bednar) Mariano Janin (Father of Mia Janin) Matthew Sweeney (Father of Jools Sweeney) Michael Absalom (Father of Kady Absalom) Michelle Barrett (Mother of Kibi Wade) Michelle Gardner (Stepmother of Kibi Wade) Penny Banyard (Mother to Lacey Banyard) Ruth Moss (Mother to Sophie Moss) Stuart Stephens (Father of Olly Stephens) Tanya Absalom (Mother of Kady Absalom) Terry Layton (Father to Elsa Layton-Jones)

Front Page of The Mirror 17th Feb 2026

Today, I am sharing a letter sent from Baroness Kidron to Lord Hermer KC, the Attorney General, seeking his permission (a fiat ) to apply to the High Court for a new inquest into the death of my son, Jools. I am asking for a new inquest because the original inquest into Jools’ death lasted just 23 minutes. No witnesses were called. No meaningful evidence was gathered. Crucially, Jools’ online activity was not examined properly. Since that inquest, serious new information has emerged. Gloucestershire Police have now agreed to re-investigate Jools’ death, following the identification of significant investigative failings by an independent former senior investigating officer and now private Dectective Mick Randall and safeguarding expert Mark Bramah , and the discovery of new forensic evidence from Jools’ devices. The police’s acknowledgement that their original investigation was inadequate inevitably raises serious questions about the adequacy of the inquest that followed. There has also been an important change in the law. Under the Online Safety Act 2023, coroners now have powers to request relevant data from social media companies via Ofcom. That data was not available to the coroner at the time of Jools’ inquest, despite written confirmation from platforms that it was preserved. A new inquest would, for the first time, be able to consider this evidence properly. This is not just about my family. A full and lawful inquest could identify lessons that help prevent future child deaths and improve how the system responds when a child dies in circumstances involving online harm. I am deeply grateful to the many peers, MPs, experts, and organisations who have signed this letter in support. Thank you in particular to Paul Wright of Alliance 4 Children for organising many of the signatures and helping bring so many voices together. Their backing reflects a shared belief that the truth matters, and that families are entitled to answers when a child dies. For Jools. And for other children who deserve better protection. #JoolsLaw #Inquest #OnlineSafety #ProtectChildren #Accountability #Justice

News Articles LBC 20 April 2026 Peer backing social media ban says there’s ‘no time for game-playing’ ahead of vote Read Article Nation Cymru 20 April 2026 Peer advocating social media ban says there’s ‘no time for game-playing’ ahead of vote Read Article The Telegraph 20 April 2026 Labour in new dispute with Lords over social media ban Read Article National Cyber Security 19 April 2026 TikTok faces lawsuit from parents of UK teens over alleged challenge-related deaths Read Article GB News 19 April 2026 Labour calls for greater youth input on online safety amid calls for a social media ban Read Article Inside Telecom 17 April 2026 Starmer’s plan to protect UK children from social media Read Article interactive investor 17 April 2026 Reeves says UK must take time on child social media restrictions Read Article LBC 16 April 2026 No more meetings and photo ops, Keir Starmer must act now on online safety, writes Ellen Roome Read Article LBC 16 April 2026 We need to tackle ‘junk information’ online, says Streeting - as he agrees to meet mother whose son took his own life in online challenge Read Article LBC 16 April 2026 PM hints social media ban for children IS coming as he vows to act Read Article The Express 16 April 2026 Fury as Labour blocks age limits on social media - 'How many more children must die?' Read Article GB News 16 April 2026 Keir Starmer summons social media bosses to No10 as Labour weighs new restrictions Read Article Metro 15 April 2026 How Many More Children Must Die? - Parents call for action on social media Read Article The Guardian 15 April 2026 MPs vote against social media ban for under-16s a second time Read Article LBC 15 April 2026 Tech bosses summoned to Downing Street as PM urges new protections for children on social media Read Article The Mirror 14 April 2026 TikTok Boss Questioned Over Teen Death Concerns Read Article The Mirror 13 April 2026 EXCLUSIVE: Lauren Cowell on the heartbreaking reason she wants social media law change Read Article Daily Mail 4 April 2026 My son was last seen laughing with his best friend, an hour later I found him dead in his bedroom - I blame social media and will not rest until Silicon Valley takes responsibility for their 'dangerous' products Read Article Outlook Business 1 April 2026 Riots, Frauds and Threats to Sovereignty: The Dark Side of Safe Harbour to Big Tech in India Read Article The Spectator 29 March 2026 A social media ban for under-16s is long overdue Read Article The Times 26 March 2026 It’s too late for us. Tech giants’ money won’t bring our children back Read Article BBC News 25 March 2026 Campaigners welcome Meta and YouTube's defeat in landmark social media addiction trial Read Article LBC 25 March 2026 Don't let more children die’: Grieving mothers issue urgent plea to ban social media for U-16s ahead of crunch vote Read Article Sky News 25 March 2026 Bereaved mother's message to Starmer on social media ban Read Article BBC News 18 March 2026 Mum seeks new inquest into online challenge death Read Article LBC 16 March 2026 Mother wins approval to seek new inquest into son’s death over alleged online ‘blackout challenge’ Read Article The Mirror 10 March 2026 Bereaved mum makes demand to 'save' other parents' kids after her son's death Read Article BBC 10 March 2026 Mum 'frustrated' as social media ban rejected Read Article Punchline 10 March 2026 Cheltenham mum not giving up after MPs reject social media ban for under-16s Read Article The Independent 6 March 2026 Bereaved parents urge MPs to support social media ban for under-16s Read Article The Times 17 February 2026 After my son died I got social media law changed — now to ban it Read Article So Glos 16 February 2026 'No platform gets a free pass' – Cheltenham mum and social media safety activist achieves landmark change in law Read Article BBC 16 February 2026 Bereaved mum in tears as data campaign to become law Read Article People 16 February 2026 Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Highlight a Mother’s Fight That Changed U.K. Law: 'One Parent Can Change Everything' Read Article GB News 16 February 2026 Mother of teenager who died during online 'blackout' challenge hails 'fantastic' social media ban Read Article BBC News 28 January 2026 Grieving mum gains support for new data sharing law Read Article Sky News 27 January 2026 How one teenager’s death could change how social media companies operate Read Article LBC 26 January 2026 Bereaved parents claim regulator not keeping children safe online Read Article BBC News 25 January 2026 Bereaved parents fear delays to social media ban could harm children Read Article Daily Mail 22 January 2026 My happy 14-year-old son ate pizza and played football with a friend... a few hours later, he was dead. I still don't know what happened in his final moments - but I have my suspicions and all parents must heed my warning Read Article Mirror 22 January 2026 'TikTok won't let me see what my son was watching on his phone just before he died' Read Article BBC News 20 January 2026 Mother joins bereaved parents at minister meeting Read Article The Independent 20 January 2026 Six families sue TikTok after their kids die trying viral ‘choking challenge’ Read Article GB News 19 January 2026 Mother launches legal action against TikTok over death of teen son after 'refusing' her access to his data Read Article The Daily Telegrapgh -AUSTRALIA 17 January 2026 http://‘Deeply painful’: Mother sues TikTok over son’s death Read Article BBC News 17 January 2026 Grieving mum suing TikTok says hearing was 'painful' Read Article LBC 16 January 2026 Boy, 14, died in mother’s arms after viral challenge - and she’s suing TikTok for answers in US court Read Article BBC News 16 January 2026 Bereaved mother hopes for TikTok 'accountability' Read Article Mirror 16 January 2026 Mum suing TikTok over death of child gives parents chilling warning Read Article Daily Mail 16 January 2026 British parents fighting TikTok in US courts over 'blackout challenge' deaths of their children say social media giants must be held accountable Read Article ITV News 16 January 2026 'We have a global problem': The UK families suing TikTok in the US over the deaths of their children Read Article The Independent 16 January 2026 Five British families sue TikTok over deaths of their children in landmark US case Read Article The sun 16 January 2026 ‘THEY’RE LAUGHING AT US’ My son Jools, 14, died in my arms after deadly viral challenge – now I’m suing TikTok in US court for answers Read Article Sky News 16 January 2026 Parents say their children died taking part in viral trend - now they're set to face TikTok in court Read Article ITV News 13 January 2026 Mother from Cheltenham bringing legal action against TikTok in the US over her son's death Read Article BBC News 12 January 2026 Bereaved mum hopes phone data could hold evidence Read Article Punchline 12 January 2026 Cheltenham mum sues TikTok in US court Read Article BBC News 11 January 2026 TV drama being made about bereaved mum's fight Read Article So Glos 30 December 2025 Campaigner Ellen Roome awarded MBE in New Year's honours Read Article The Independent 30 December 2025 Mother made MBE for online safety campaign after death of teenage son Read Article BBC News 30 December 2025 Bereaved mum who is campaigning for law change appointed MBE Read Article ITV News West 30 December 2025 Mother made MBE for online safety campaign after death of teenage son Read Article So Glos 11 December 2025 Gloucestershire mum and campaigner Ellen Roome signs rights for new factual drama Read Article BBC News 9 December 2025 Bereaved mum one step closer to online law change Read Article Broadcast 1 December 2025 Featuristic Films preps Ellen Roome factual drama Read Article BBC News 1 December 2025 Mum welcomes fresh review of son's online devices Read Article ITV News 4 August 2025 Bereaved Cheltenham mum launches free online safety resource for children Read Article Punchline 28 July 2025 New law ‘doesn’t go far enough’ Read Article Sky News 25 July 2025 New internet rules enforced from today - but this grieving mother is sceptical they will work Read Article Punchline 23 July 2025 Bereaved families call for urgent change in law Read Article Woman Magazine 22 July 2025 Woman Magazine - Why are our Kids risking their lives for clicks? Read Article Cheltenham Post 14 July 2025 Parents unite to combat internet dangers for children Read Article So Glos 2 July 2025 Bereaved Cheltenham mum launches free online safety resource for children Read Article Punchline 30 June 2025 Gloucestershire mum launches online safety resource for schools Read Article National World 30 June 2025 ‘Click or Quit?’': Bereaved parents unite to launch free life-saving online safety resource for schools and families Read Article The Guardian 18 June 2025 For Jools: one mother’s fight for the truth about her son’s death Read Article Punchline 20 May 2025 Max backs call for tighter social media controls for under-16s Read Article Daily Mail 18 May 2025 Mother who fears her son died taking part in an online challenge battles for changes to the government's Data Bill Read Article BBC News 16 May 2025 'I want to understand why my son is not here' Read Article ITV News 15 May 2025 Mother hopeful law change will allow other bereaved parents access to children's phone data Read Article ITV News 8 May 2025 Bereaved mother continues fight for change in data laws after teenage son took his own life Read Article BBC News 8 May 2025 Bereaved mother 'drained' by campaign to change law Read Article The Times 5 May 2025 Let me see my son’s social media, bereaved mother demands Read Article BBC News 5 May 2025 Bereaved mum backs data disclosure law change Read Article BBC News 24 April 2025 Bereaved parents demand tech firms 'protect children' Read Article Mirror 24 April 2025 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle join bereaved families demanding social media action Read Article Independent 30 March 2025 As UK families grieve, can one determined country stop social media from harming children? Read Article RTE 23 February 2025 UK families take case against TikTok over child deaths Read Article The Sun 21 February 2025 VIRAL HORROR We’re suing TikTok to find out why our children died doing the ‘Black Out’ Challenge – we’ve been forced down this route Read Article The Guardian 21 February 2025 UK parents suing TikTok over children’s deaths ‘suspicious’ about data claims Read Article Mirror 14 February 2025 'I'm taking on Meta and Snapchat after my teen son died in sick challenge' Read Article The Times 13 February 2025 One woman’s quest to discover what led to the death of her son Read Article Gloucestershire Live 13 February 2025 Blow to Cheltenham mum looking to TikTok for answers over the death of her son Read Article Metro 11 February 2025 Mum seeking answers over son’s death says social media firms ‘don’t give a damn’ Read Article BBC News 11 February 2025 Data of four dead British teens may have been removed, says TikTok Read Article Euro Weekly 10 February 2025 Parents demand answers from TikTok after children’s tragic deaths Read Article BBC News 10 February 2025 Bereaved mum looks for answers after son's death Read Article The Standard 9 February 2025 Parents suing TikTok over children’s deaths ‘want answers’ Read Article News Cast 9 February 2025 Interview: The Families Taking TikTok to Court Read Article BBC News 8 February 2025 Parents suing TikTok over children's deaths say it 'has no compassion' Read Article

Applying to the High Court for a new inquest for Jools to try to use the new Date Use and Access Bill for answers. Police Investigation and High Court Hearing “I will keep going until I find the truth about what happened to my son and make sure no other parent has to fight this hard for answers.”— Ellen Roome, Jools’ Mum April 2026 2 April - I’m pleased to share that we have now issued proceedings in the High Court seeking a new inquest for Jools, with Mishcon de Reya & Harry Lambert of Outer Temple Chambers representing me. We don’t yet have a hearing date, but I am hopeful this will move forward quickly. I want answers as to what happened. Gary Miller shared this below on his LinkedIn page..... March 2026 16 March - Police Investigation Update We are currently engaging with Gloucestershire Police as part of their ongoing review into the original investigation into Jools’ death. Mark Bramah (who is supporting us) has written formally on our behalf, raising serious concerns about the handling of the review. These include: Key questions still not being answered A lack of transparency and clarity Concerns about communication and delays The impact of requests made to our family The letter makes clear that the assurances of openness, transparency and accountability must be met if confidence in this review is to be restored. We await a response. 13 March - The Attorney General has granted permission, issuing a Fiat , allowing me to apply to the High Court for a new inquest into the death of Jools. This important step means the High Court will now consider whether the original inquest should be set aside so the full circumstances of Jools’ death, including potential digital evidence, can be properly examined. February 2026 25 February - I formally submitted a complaint to the IOPC regarding the original investigation into Jools’ death by Gloucestershire Constabulary . This is not something any parent should have to do. In our complaint, I have raised serious concerns about the failure to robustly and comprehensively investigate the circumstances surrounding Jools’ death, including failures during the golden hour to properly secure key digital evidence. I have set out concerns that: • The investigation was not conducted to the standards set out by the College of Policing and Gloucestershire Constabulary’s own policies for dealing with a Sudden and Unexpected Death in Childhood investigation. • Reasonable lines of enquiry were not properly identified or followed through. • Key investigative hypotheses were not considered or explored. • Digital devices were not secured and examined with the urgency and expertise required. • Decision-making was not properly recorded. • The approach by one particular officer at the scene lacked investigative rigour and basic humanity. At the time, I was a mother in shock who had just found my 14 year old son. I trusted that everything that should have been done would have been done. I now know that critical opportunities were missed. The way our son’s life was tragically cut short deserves a thorough investigation, and I will continue to push until families like ours can have confidence that no stone is left unturned. 17 February - Letter received from the police saying yesterday's phone call was a welfare check - If this were a welfare call, it raises serious questions as to why such a sensitive and potentially alarming line of enquiry would be introduced in that moment. The letter goes on to explain that although a significant amount of digital material has already been examined, the police intend to conduct further keyword searches as part of their ongoing review. They have invited us, as Jools’ parents, to suggest our own keywords, usernames or phrases to be included in those searches. This has been presented as a collaborative step, intended to provide reassurance and ensure nothing is overlooked. Being asked, as parents, to sit down almost four years later and consider what words might be associated with the circumstances surrounding our son’s death is not a simple administrative task. It is a deeply difficult exercise. Matt shared his thoughts on what we have been asked to do: "This exercise was profoundly distressing, emotionally exhausting, and deeply upsetting. In the absence of any Police review of the data taken from Jools’ devices in 2022, or history his activity on social media platforms in the period leading up to 13th April 2022, I was placed in what I felt was an unacceptable position of having to independently consider all potential circumstances that could lead a young teenager to take their own life. This was not limited to Jools alone, as the absence of evidential analysis means we do not yet know the full context or history of his personal online activity. This process began with, once again, considering the devastating possibility that he may have intentionally ended his life - requiring me to confront issues such as him suffering with depression and mental health issues. It then extended into even more distressing territory: having to imagine and mentally process scenarios in which Jools may have been in contact with strangers who subjected him to coercion, pressure, compulsion, abuse, exploitation, sexual exploitation, gang or county lines involvement, betrayal by a friend or someone known to him, bribery, or financial leverage etc. So, having spent most of an afternoon forcing myself to contemplate these potential horrors in Jools’ life, I was left at the end of the day with a stream of distressing and intrusive thoughts. Surely this cannot reasonably be described as a trauma-informed approach by the Police when liaising with the family? (of a child who died almost four years ago). How do the Police now intend to acknowledge and address the additional trauma that this process has created? I have no doubt that Ellen is experiencing the same, or similar, emotional and psychological impact" 16 February – Ellen received a call from Gloucestershire Police while she was standing alone on a train on her way home from the BBC, following progress on Jools’ Law. The officer knew this. During the conversation, the officer said she needed to ask a question arising from footage which showed a query about whether the back door had been unlocked on the day Jools died. To be asked this question almost four years later, while alone on a train, was shocking. She suggested that there is now video footage that raises questions about whether a door being unlocked inevitably causes distress. Standing alone on that train, Ellen’s immediate thought was whether this implied a new line of investigation; were they saying someone else was in the house with Jools that night? The explanations then changed several times during the same call. The officer initially stated the issue had been seen on the family’s CCTV. Ellen immediately challenged this, as she is aware that Gloucestershire Police did not take or watch ANY CCTV footage from the property, other than the single clip voluntarily provided of Jools saying goodbye to Monty at the front door. The officer then stated that it must have come from CCTV footage sent to the Police. Ellen clarified again that only one clip was ever sent and that the Police never bothered reviewing any of the other footage. The officer then suggested it may have been body-worn camera footage. This is particularly concerning, as Ellen had previously been informed in correspondence from Gloucestershire Police that the docking station for the relevant body-worn cameras was not functioning, and she was therefore under the understanding that no body-worn video footage was available. Within one call, three different explanations were given. After almost 4 years, and given the sensitivity of this case, it is essential that an accurate and consistent account be provided of the evidence available, the footage retained, and how it is being reviewed. 9 February – Baroness Kidron wrote to Lord Hermer KC, the Attorney General, chasing his permission (a fiat) to apply to the High Court for a new inquest into the death of my son, Jools. I am asking for a new inquest because the original inquest into Jools’ death lasted just 23 minutes. No witnesses were called. No meaningful evidence was gathered. Crucially, Jools’ online activity was not examined properly. Since that inquest, serious new information has emerged. I am deeply grateful to the many peers, MPs, experts, and organisations who have signed this letter in support. Thank you in particular to Paul Wright of Alliance 4 Children for organising many of the signatures and helping bring so many voices together. 2 February – I spent 4½ hours giving a video statement, recounting everything I could possibly remember about the death of Jools. I was asked to go through every sight, every sound, every smell. To take myself back to that night in a level of detail no parent should ever have to revisit. Taking myself back there was not just upsetting; it was overwhelming. After the statement ended, I suffered flashbacks for the rest of the evening. My mind and body were still there, reliving it all. It was exhausting. Painful. So incredibly hard. What has left me completely shocked is learning that when Jools died, not a single statement was taken from anyone. Not from me. Not from his dad. Not from his friends. Not from anyone. How does a 14-year-old child die, and not one single statement is taken? I was in no fit state at that time when he died to question what was happening or to imagine that something so basic would be overlooked. As a parent, you assume the fundamentals will be done. You assume someone is doing their job while you are in shock and grief. But they weren’t. Those first hours and days matter. Memories are clearer. Context exists. Evidence exists. And yet nothing was properly recorded then. Now, years later, Matt has to give his statement. Jools’ friends will have to give theirs too. All of us are being asked to remember details that should have been captured at the time, when the memories were still intact. January 2026 31 January – The police investigation is ongoing. I understand that officers have now requested information from Jools’ school. Matt and I have also been asked to give video statements . Mine is scheduled for Monday, 2 February. This will be extremely difficult, as it will involve reliving Jools’ last night on camera with the police. We were never asked to provide video statements at the time of his death. 12 January – The BBC came to film me about my busy week, and whilst with me, they received confirmation from Gloucestershire Police that they do indeed have the initial forensic imaging of Jools' phone from 26th April 2022, which had NEVER previously been reviewed. I'm shocked that I heard this from the BBC instead of the police, but delighted that they do, in fact, have it. 7 January – Email received from Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone at Gloucestershire Police. They have now formally confirmed that new investigative resources have been allocated to review outstanding lines of enquiry in relation to Jools’ death. A massive thank you to Mark Bramah & Mick Randall for their work in achieving this for us. Families should not have to fight for years to trigger basic investigative action. Progress should be automatic, immediate, and routine. That is why systemic reform is still needed and why Jools’ Law matters. December 2025 23 December - Met with Senior Investigating Officer, Gary Haskins , to discuss the review into Jools' case. This meeting took place a month after Gloucestershire Constabulary confirmed it would undertake a review. I remain concerned that meaningful investigation has not yet begun. He informed us that we will hear more by mid January. Yet more waiting for us. 17 December - J. Paul Wright at Alliance 4 Children sent a letter to the Attorney General in support of my application (made by Harry Lambert at Outer Temple Chambers ) for a new inquest into the death of my son, Jools. He brought together 23 MPs and Peers from across Parliament, spanning parties and the Cross Benches. I am deeply grateful to Paul, the Alliance 4 Children team, and to every MP, Peer and organisation who has put their name to this request and stood with us in the search for truth, accountability and learning that could protect other children in the future. Thank you. New powers under the Online Safety Act 2023 and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 mean that coroners can now obtain a deceased child’s digital and social media data. These powers did not exist at the time of Jools’ inquest, and I do not feel that his inquest, which lasted just 23 minutes, without the benefit of examining the full evidence, was appropriate. This letter sets out why, in light of the changed legal framework and the strong public interest in understanding the role of digital harm in children’s lives, a new inquest is both necessary and justified. Additionally, Gloucestershire Constabulary has confirmed that my next meeting with them will take place on 23 December. It has now been a month since they were provided with the independent Fedora report from Mick Randall and the work from Mark Bramah (Child Safeguarding Expert), and I remain concerned that meaningful work has not yet begun. I feel that, because Jools is dead, this is not being treated as a priority, despite the report raising new lines of enquiry with them. This is not just about Jools. It is about ensuring our systems keep pace with children’s realities, and that digital evidence is never again ignored when a child dies. That is why I have been working in Parliament to change the law, so no other bereaved parent has to face what we have. 16 December - Saqib Bhatti MBE MP for Meriden and Solihull East has agreed to write to AG to back my application. I have had several others confirm to their constituents that they will support my application (but I dont have the letters to share), which is most kind. 12 December - Senior Investigating Officer Gary Haskins has arranged a meeting on 23 December with me, Mark Bramah and Mick Randall to discuss the independent review into Jools’ case. This meeting takes place nearly a month after Gloucestershire Constabulary confirmed it would undertake a review. The meeting will be the first opportunity to understand what work, if any, has been carried out since the review was announced, how the Fedora report and original case material are being examined, and whether any new lines of enquiry have been identified. 9 December – Continuing to ask MPs and Peers from the House of Lords to back my application with the AG. My MP, Max Wilkinson, has sent a letter of support, as have Baroness Beeban Kidron & Baroness Diana Barran. 8 December – My application to the Attorney General (AG) for a FIAT is now in. Thank you to Harry Lambert, Outer Temple Chambers for all his work preparing this. 1 December – Ellen on BBC Breakfast providing an update as to police involvement (play video below) November 2025 28 November – Gloucestershire Constabulary has confirmed a full independent review of Jools’ case, led by newly appointed Senior Investigating Officer Gary Haskins , formerly Head of Major Crime. The review will examine all original case material alongside Fedora’s 23-page report, pursue any new lines of enquiry, and reassess the original outcome. Police have committed to a rigorous, transparent process. 21 November – A positive meeting was held with Gloucestershire Constabulary, who were genuinely caring in their approach. We are now awaiting their formal response, giving them the necessary time to review Fedora’s 23-page independent report. They have confirmed they will reply by 28 November. 2 November – Meeting confirmed for 21 November with Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone ; Detective Superintendent Steve Bean (Head of Public Protection); Mick Randall (Fedora Investigations); Mark Bramah (former Senior Investigating Officer); Matt Sweeney (Jools’ dad); and me. October 2025 24 October – Emailed Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone at Gloucestershire Police to request a meeting to discuss major concerns about Jools’ case. 16 October – Received a comprehensive 23-page report from Mick Randall (Fedora Investigations ). It provides an independent and detailed review of how Gloucestershire Police handled Jools’ case and highlights serious failings. September 2025 7 September – A highly experienced forensic specialist re-examined Jools’ devices. 5 September – I’ve written a full ‘brain dump’ of Jools’ last day . Every moment, every tiny detail I can remember, laid out in a timeline. It was incredibly painful to relive, but the experts asked me to do this so they could piece together what happened, and so much was overlooked in the original investigation. Even something as simple as Jools wearing different clothes when I found him compared to earlier in the day… why wasn’t this noticed? Is it relevant? I don’t know. But now, I must let the experts do their job. I am beyond grateful for their kindness in helping me. 4 September – Had a two-hour meeting with two former Senior Investigating Officers and my barrister, Harry Lambert . For the first time, I finally felt heard. What I have always believed was overlooked has now been confirmed as entirely reasonable and correct. Their words, not mine. August 2025 31 August 2025 – I’m now gathering every piece of evidence and paperwork to submit my application to the Attorney General. On Thursday, I have an important meeting with a former Senior Investigating Officer and a forensic expert, both of whom have kindly offered to help me review the police report. It’s a huge step forward — finally looking at what was done, and what wasn’t, at the original inquest with people who truly understand the process. All of this will then go to my barrister , who is also a coroner , and has generously offered to represent me without charge . I am deeply grateful for the people who have come forward to help, but it’s still such a painful journey, piecing everything together and wondering how so much could have been missed. 19 August 2025 – I finally received the police report . Sadly, it contains no new information. I have sent it straight to my lawyers for review, but it’s hard not to feel disheartened. Every delay and every blank page is another reminder of how far I still have to go to uncover the truth about what happened to Jools. 18 August 2025 – I emailed the Minister, Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE , to complain that Gloucestershire Police had failed to respond to my request for the overdue report and now appeared to be ignoring my emails. 9 August 2025 – Back on 7 July, Gloucestershire Constabulary’s Legal Services Department told me I would receive the police report on Jools’ devices by 4 August . Then I was told it would arrive by the end of this week, which I assumed meant yesterday. Perhaps their definition of “the end of the week” is different. Either way, the report has still not arrived. I have chased again. The waiting never seems to end. July 2025 23 July 2025 – I received a letter from Minister Alex Davies-Jones at the Ministry of Justice . She wrote that while she and her colleagues deeply sympathise with my loss and my determination to find the truth, they cannot formally support my application for a fresh inquest. The decision must be made independently by the Attorney General , who alone can grant a Fiat (permission) for a new investigation. Although disappointing, she acknowledged the importance of my campaign and my ongoing efforts to seek answers. 17 July 2025 – I wrote again to Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP , raising my concerns about the app LMK and about WhatsApp . The children’s codes do not cover these private messaging platforms in the Online Safety Act because they are encrypted and not public platforms. Yet they are often used by predators to move children from open platforms into private chats, away from safety and oversight. This loophole continues to put children at risk. 16 July 2025 – Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP , Secretary of State, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology , replied to me, and you can see his letter here. 7 July 2025 – The Police Legal Team confirmed that I would receive their full report by 4 August. June to July 2025 2 July 2025 – I wrote to Gloucestershire Constabulary’s Legal Team requesting complete clarity on what data was reviewed, how, and when. I also asked which of Jools’ social media accounts the police located before the inquest. I can only hope this doesn’t take another nine months to receive, as it did when I first asked for the police file on Jools. When that file finally came, much of it was redacted. I raised this with Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP, Minister of State for Policing and Crime Prevention , and was told: “When responding to a data subject access request pursuant to the Data Protection Act 2018, the law allows law enforcement authorities, in this case the Gloucestershire Constabulary, to restrict the response (for example by redacting) if that is necessary and proportionate for a range of circumstances, including to avoid prejudicing the prevention, detection or investigation of criminal offences or to protect the rights and freedoms of others.” It was another reminder of how hard it is for parents to access the very information that could explain what happened to their children. 26 June 2025 – I wrote to the following ministers asking for their support in my application to the Attorney General for a new inquest for Jools: Alex Davies-Jones, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP, Minister of State for Policing and Crime Prevention Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP , Secretary of State, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Baroness Maggie Jones , Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, DSIT May to June 2025 6 June 2025 – The Coroner returned several documents. The next step is to obtain statements from Jools’ friends. 27 May 2025 – I wrote formally to the Coroner. After Jools’ inquest , I only ever received the final inquest pack, but lawyers have since told me there should have been more documentation shared. I’ve asked to see the full records and have requested that the Coroner support my application for a fresh inquest . Jools’ inquest file had been archived, so I am now waiting for it to be returned. It’s another slow, emotional process, but one that I have to see through to the end. How can you help?

Joolslaw - Automatic preservation of children’s online data when a death is reported. Ellen Roome is fighting for transparency and safety in the digital space so no other family has to endure the pain she has suffered. Jools' Law Jools’ Law is a UK campaign led by Ellen Roome MBE, calling for the automatic preservation of a child’s online and social media data within five days of death. Without this, vital digital evidence can disappear within hours, leaving families without answers and preventing proper accountability. Protecting children. Preserving the truth. Turning pain into purpose. When a child dies, their digital life may hold crucial evidence. Jools’ Law ensures that data is preserved so the truth can be found and other children can be protected.