Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy, the MP for West Suffolk, has written to the Lord Chancellor demanding urgent action after authorities failed Haverhill resident Joe Luccarini, a vulnerable autistic adult left with life-changing injuries following a hit-and-run collision.
You can read his letter below.
And Mr Timothy praised Joe’s sister Emily for starting a courageous campaign to fix the legal anomalies this tragic case has highlighted.
Her petition now has hundreds of signatures.
In August 2024, Mr Luccarini sustained a neck fracture after being struck by a car in Haverhill. The suspect absconded. In January, police closed the case, wrongly citing a six-month time limit for summary offences.
Legal experts confirmed the offence was exempt from this limit.
Only after BBC intervention was the case reopened.
Since appearing on BBC Look East, the Luccarini family has been contacted by numerous families similarly denied justice following hit-and-runs causing serious injury, including cases involving children.
In his letter to Lord Chancellor David Lammy last month, Mr Timothy drew attention to the case and asked the Government to clarify the law.
Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore, also supports action to fix this.
Commenting, Mr Timothy said:
“I want to congratulate Emily on her brave campaign to address the issues this tragic case has brought to light. I urge everyone to sign her petition calling for action.
“I have written to the Lord Chancellor, calling on the Government to take swift steps to reduce the likelihood of this ever happening again.”
