Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2026
Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2026-0240, written 17 Mar 2026. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.
| Date of report | 17 Mar 2026 |
|---|---|
| Reference | 2026-0240 |
| Deceased | Scott Catton |
| Source | judiciary.uk record |
| Responses published | 1 |
Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.
Regulation 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS NOTE: This form is to be used after an inquest. REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT DEATHS THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 1 Secretary of State for Transport 1 CORONER I am Miss Karen Boyle, Assistant Coroner for the coroner area of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire 2 CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. 3 INVESTIGATION and INQUEST On 25 June 2025 I commenced an investigation into the death of Scott Maxwell Henry CATTON aged 53. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 13 March 2026. The conclusion of the inquest was that: On 5 June 2025 Scott Maxwell Henry Catton was travelling an electric scooter along Ridgeway, Nottingham, when a door of a parked vehicle, opened towards the road and despite taking evasive action, he was unable to avoid the door and his left arm made contact with the door frame causing him to spin and fall onto the road surface, causing a serious head injury. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. He received first aid treatment and was transferred to QMC Hospital but died as a result of the head injury on 7 June 2025. 4 CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH of On 25 June 2025 I commenced an investigation into the death of Scott Maxwell Henry CATTON aged 53. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 13 March 2026. The conclusion that: On 5 June 2025 Scott Maxwell Henry Catton was travelling an electric scooter along Ridgeway, Nottingham, when a door of a parked vehicle, opened towards the road and despite taking evasive action, he was unable to avoid the door and his left arm made contact with the door frame causing him to spin and fall onto the road surface, causing a serious head injury. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. He received first aid treatment and was transferred to QMC Hospital but died as a result of the head injury on 7 June 2025. inquest was the 5 CORONER’S CONCERNS During the course of the investigation my inquiries revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows: 1. There is no requirement that riders of electric scooters wear helmets. Due to the expectation of their use on the roads, and their vulnerability, there is a risk of death to riders of electric scooters and bicycles not wearing protective headwear who are involved in collisions, even at lower speeds. Regulation 28 – After Inquest Document Template Updated 30/07/2021 I am not reassured that necessary actions to address these serious issues identified are in place 6 ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you (and/or your organisation) have the power to take such action. 7 YOUR RESPONSE You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by May 12, 2026. I, the coroner, may extend the period. Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed. COPIES and PUBLICATION 8 I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons 1. Mr Catton’s Famiy 2. I am also under a duty to send a copy of your response to the Chief Coroner and all interested persons who in my opinion should receive it. I may also send a copy of your response to any person who I believe may find it useful or of interest. The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner. 9 Dated: March 17, 2026 Miss Karen Boyle Assistant Coroner for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Regulation 28 – After Inquest Document Template Updated 30/07/2021
1 response published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.
Karen Boyle HM Assistant Coroner for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Nottingham City Council, The Council House Old Market Square, Nottingham NG1 2DT From the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Great Minster House 33 Horseferry Road London SW1P 4DR 12 May 2026 Dear Karen, Thank you for your letter of 17 March enclosing a Regulation 28 Report for the death of Scott Maxwell Henry Catton following the conclusion of your inquest on 13 March. I am replying as Minister for Roads and Buses. I was very sorry to hear of Scott Catton’s tragic death, and our thoughts are with Scott’s family and friends. I would like to thank you for your investigation and for sharing your concerns about there being no requirement for e-scooter and bicycle riders to wear a helmet. I understand that Scott Catton was riding a privately owned e-scooter at the time of the accident. Under current legislation, private e-scooters are illegal to use on public roads. Rental e-scooters can be used, but only as part of the Government’s national rental e-scooter trials. Trial guidance strongly recommends that all users should wear helmets and urges all e-scooter trial operators to consider providing helmets or incentivising their use. The purpose of the trials is to inform future e-scooter regulations. As you may know, the Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles, which will include e-scooters, when parliamentary time allows. This will create safe, legal routes for people to use new transport technology, and help the police with enforcement activities. Any regulations, including the potential requirement for helmet-wearing, will be publicly consulted on before coming into force so that all interested parties have a chance to shape the new regime. To support this, a second evaluation of the e-scooter trials is currently underway, due to conclude in Summer 2026 and published in early 2027. Among other things, the evaluation is looking at the impact of helmet provision and uptake amongst e-scooter users. I will ensure we consider a full range of evidence, including international comparisons. On the matter of helmets for cyclists, the question is complex. The Government must carefully balance the safety benefits of mandating helmets against the potential disbenefits. The Department carefully looked at the case for making helmet wearing mandatory in a comprehensive Cycling and Walking Safety Review in 2018. The Review concluded that helmets should continue to be strongly recommended for people who cycle, especially for children, but that they should remain a matter of personal choice rather than becoming a legal requirement. It said that the safety benefits of mandating cycle helmets for people who cycle would be likely to be outweighed by the fact that this would put some people off cycling, thereby reducing the wider health and environmental benefits. Enforcement is also unlikely to be a priority for the police. However, as I consider future regulations on micromobility vehicles including e-scooters, I will continue to ensure we look holistically at road safety which remains a top priority and at the core of the Department’s work. Yours sincerely, MINISTER FOR ROADS AND BUSES
See every Prevention of Future Deaths report matching Scott Catton, and how often a new one appears.
What would an alert for this have sent me? Search the full text
Free to try — the preview shows the real matches and how many arrived in the last 12 months. Your first email alert is free.
These reports are published by the Chief Coroner's office at judiciary.uk and are © Crown copyright. The text here is reproduced from the published PDF so it can be searched. If something on this page is wrong, or you are a person named in it and want it reviewed, email drcjar@gmail.com and we will act promptly.