HEALTH AND SAFETY: Drowning conviction sparks fears over trips

Teacher Paul Ellis was last week jailed for a year after admitting the manslaughter of Max Palmer, who was drowned in a pool in the Lake District last year.

Roger Clarke, chief executive of the youth hostels body YHA, expressed concern that "everyone will become more risk-averse than they were before".

"It's tragic when something like this happens. Fortunately it's rare," he said. "Youth leaders should continue to have the confidence and support they need to take young people on trips, because it's a very important part of their development."

Some teaching unions have now pledged to boycott all exchanges and trips. Doug Nicholls, general secretary of the Community and Youth Workers' Union, said: "We have never held that position, but we are coming close." Nicholls expressed concern at the lack of health and safety training and risk-assessment policies in youth services.