The Editor
The Sun
1 Virginia Street
London E98 1SL

18 July 2006

Dear Sir,

Your editorial of 18 July paints a wholly false picture of the Health and Safety Executive. First we have no responsibility for the prosecution in the de Menezes case, which is purely a decision of the Crown Prosecution Service. Secondly we have clear accountability to Ministers and Parliament and, for example, appear regularly before select committees.

Our legal powers are strictly defined and rightly subject to review by the Courts. Our prime purpose is to reduce deaths and serious injuries at work (220 deaths and 150,000 serious injuries in 2004/5). We have no interest in trivia and, like the Sun, find it bizarre that school children should wear goggles to play conkers!

Yours faithfully,

Geoffrey Podger
Chief Executive
HSE
Rose Court
2 Southwark Bridge
London SE1 9HS
Tel: 020 7717 6000