Bereaved families call for inquiry after suicide website warnings ‘ignored’

Bereaved families are calling for a public inquiry into what they say are “repeated failures” by the UK government in its attempt to protect vulnerable people from a website promoting suicide.

A report from the Molly Rose Foundation said departments were warned 65 times about the online forum, which BBC News is not naming, and that others like it but have not acted.

The suicide prevention charity says at least 133 people have died in the UK from a toxic chemical promoted by the site and similar forums.

The government did not say whether it would consider an investigation, but said sites must prevent users from accessing illegal content about suicide and self-harm or face “rigorous action, including substantial fines.”

Families and survivors have written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling for an investigation to determine why warnings from coroners and campaigners were ignored.

David Parfett, whose son Tom took his own life in 2021, told the BBC that successive governments had offered sympathy but no accountability.

“The people who host suicide platforms to spread their bigoted messages that suicide is normal – and to make money selling death – continue to be several steps ahead of government ministers and law enforcement,” he said.

“I can’t think of a better memory for my son than knowing that people like him are protected from harm while they regain their sanity.”

David and six other families are represented by law firm Leigh Day who also wrote a letter to the Prime Minister outlining their concerns about the leading suicide forum.

The letter states the victims were groomed online and were generally aged in their 20s, with the youngest known victim being 13.

He argues a public inquiry is needed because coroners’ courts cannot make the changes needed to protect vulnerable people.

According to the report, coroners have raised concerns and sent repeated warnings to the Home Office, the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department of Health and Social Care dozens of times since 2019, when the forum criticized by the families first emerged.

The report highlights four main conclusions:

• The Home Office’s refusal to tighten regulations on the substance, which remains easily accessible online, while UK border forces “struggle to respond to imports” from overseas sellers.

• Media regulator Ofcom’s decision to rely on ‘voluntary measures’ from main forum operators rather than taking action to restrict access in the UK

• Repeated failures of government departments to act on coroners’ warnings

• Operational shortcomings including inconsistent security checks by police and delays in providing antidotes to emergency services

A government spokesperson said the substance in question “is closely monitored and must be declared under the Poison Act”, meaning retailers must inform authorities if they suspect it is being purchased with the aim of causing harm.

But campaigners say the government’s response has been fragmented and slow, with officials “passing the package” rather than taking coordinated action.

Adele Zeynep Walton, whose sister Aimee died in 2022, said families like hers had been “ignored and dismissed”.

“She was creative, a very talented artist, a gifted musician,” she told BBC News.

“Aimee worked hard and got excellent GCSE results, but she was shy and quiet and struggled to make friends.

“Every time I learn that another life has been lost because of the website that killed my sister three years ago, I am furious that another family had to experience this avoidable tragedy.”

The request for an investigation follows concerns raised by the BBC in 2023, when an investigation revealed sites offering instructions and encouragement to commit suicide and circumvent regulations.

Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, said the state’s inaction had “cost countless lives.”

He also accused Ofcom of being “inexplicably slow” in restricting UK access to the main website about which the Foundation raised concerns.

Under the Online Safety Act, which came into force in October 2023, Ofcom was given the power in March 2025 to take action against sites hosting illegal content, including assisted suicide. If sites fail to demonstrate they have systems in place to remove illegal material, Ofcom can block them or impose fines of up to £18 million.

UK users cannot currently access the forum, which is based in the United States. A post on the forum’s homepage states that access to people in the UK was not blocked as a result of government action, but rather because of a “proactive” decision to “protect the platform and its users.”

“We operate under the protection of the First Amendment. However, UK authorities have signaled their intention to enforce their domestic laws on foreign platforms, which could result in criminal prosecution or disruption of services,” the post said.

In a statement, Ofcom said: “In response to our enforcement action, the Online Suicide Forum has implemented geo-blocking to restrict access to people with a UK IP address.

“Services that choose to block access to people in the UK must not encourage or promote ways to avoid these restrictions.”

It added that the forum remained on its watchlist and that a previously launched investigation into it remained open while it verified that the blockage continued.

• If you or someone you know has been affected by mental health problems BBC action line has put together a list of organizations that can help you.