Father advocates for stricter regulations on online poison sales

The parent of a 22-year-old woman, diagnosed with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, who died by suicide after acquiring poison via the internet, is advocating for more stringent controls on such substances. Hannah Aitken, aged 22, residing in Guildford, Surrey, procured the industrial-grade chemical from Malaysia, arranging for its shipment to the United Kingdom. Pete Aitken, her father, asserts that this potent poison ought to be classified as a regulated substance, available exclusively to individuals holding a licence. A government representative stated: “We will continue to engage with suppliers to ensure businesses are vigilant with the sale of this substance.” The toxic substance, which the BBC has chosen not to identify, is accessible for purchase by any individual online without any limitations. While not an illicit substance and utilized for industrial applications, it is categorized as a reportable poison. This classification mandates that sellers within the UK must report suspicious transactions to the Home Office and are permitted to inquire about the buyer’s intended use for the chemicals. Conversely, international sellers are not subject to this requirement, and purchasers are not obliged to possess a licence. Mr. Aitken commented: “I had never heard of this poison at all. “When we found out what it was, the first question we had was, how did she find out about it and how did she know about it?”” Subsequent to Hannah’s inquest, Surrey assistant coroner Anna Loxton expressed apprehension regarding the absence of regulations preventing individuals from acquiring and importing the substance from overseas without scrutiny. Hannah had initially attempted to purchase the chemical from a Manchester-based company, but upon receiving a declaration-of-use form, she decided not to proceed with the transaction. She successfully purchased approximately 1,000 times the lethal dosage of the poison, at 99% purity, from a Malaysian company, subsequently using it to end her life. The company states it has ceased selling the chemical. In her prevention of future deaths (PFD) report, Ms. Loxton highlighted worries that the use of this poison for self-harm was on the rise, noting that the Home Office had received a minimum of five PFDs concerning the identical substance since 2020. She additionally voiced apprehension that the sold quantities and purity “does not appear to be those required for their legitimate use”. Her father is presently advocating for enhanced regulation of the substance, expressing his belief that the Poisons Act 1972 is primarily directed at counter-terrorism efforts, rather than suicide prevention. Mr. Aitken stated: “The purity for legitimate purposes is 1% so it seems to us that there is a practical step that could be made such that 1% purity stays as a reportable poison, but purities above this level could be made a regulated poison which would mean that you would need a licence to buy it.” He added: “In this way, a safeguard could be provided for a lot of vulnerable people like Hannah, but at the same time allow people to use it legitimately.” Mr. Aitken disclosed that his daughter had been admitted to seven distinct mental health hospitals over a five-year period, starting from age 15, and had made multiple suicide attempts. He expressed a sentiment that Hannah was “seriously let down” by the Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. He remarked: “On numerous occasions we raised our concerns around the care and lack of expertise and experience in caring for Hannah with her complex autistic needs.” The coroner, at the inquest’s conclusion, determined that no oversight in Hannah’s mental health care was found to have contributed to her death. Nevertheless, she did underscore missed opportunities concerning the failure to update Hannah’s care plan and the lack of comprehensive guidance for all staff on how best to interact with her. Hannah was subject to a community treatment order when she passed away in assisted living accommodation in Surrey in September 2023. Graham Wareham, chief executive of Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, stated: “We are very sorry to hear about the concerns raised by Hannah Aitken’s family regarding her care, which we take very seriously. “We are reaching out to the family to ask for the opportunity to discuss their concerns in more detail.“” He continued: “While the assistant coroner and court-appointed expert did not find that the care provided by Surrey and Borders Partnership contributed to Hannah’s tragic death, we will continue to reflect on our role in Hannah’s care with a view to continuous improvement and learning.” Mr. Aitken desires that ambulance personnel routinely carry the poison antidote and receive appropriate training to identify overdose symptoms. This is not presently a mandatory practice for ambulance services, though a trial is currently underway in the West Midlands. The antidote is accessible in Accident & Emergency departments. Caleb Bawdon, an associate solicitor at the law firm Leigh Day, commented: “Coroners have clearly been trying their best to raise concerns about this issue but nothing has been done to effectively address this risk.” He added: “The responsibility is now with the government to do something about it.” The home secretary and the health secretary are mandated to respond to the coroner within 56 days of the PFD’s publication, detailing actions taken or proposed to prevent future fatalities. A Home Office spokesperson stated: “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of Hannah Aitken and any other individuals who have sadly lost their life due to this substance. “Ministers are considering the coroner’s report carefully.“” The spokesperson further explained: “The Poisons Act is meant to ensure that retailers report any attempted or suspicious transactions of poisons where the buyer may intend to cause harm to themselves or others.”