THE father of a young man who died at the Southampton Boat Show has travelled to Downing Street to call for a change in the law on corporate responsibility.

Tristan Douglas-Johnson, 20, died in September 2000 from extensive injuries caused by a boat's propeller when he and two others were flung overboard after an inexperienced driver lost control.

The former marine engineer was pulled from the water after being hit by the then unmanned rigid inflatable boat (RIB), but died from his injuries shortly afterwards. An inquest was later told the tragedy could have been avoided if safety procedures had been followed.

Mr Douglas-Johnson's father, Hendon Johnson, from Dorset, wants a new charge of corporate killing to be used when companies are to blame for people's deaths. If such a law was introduced, firms could be prosecuted for manslaughter.

Mr Johnson joined bereaved families from all over the country to hand a petition containing hundreds of signatures to Tony Blair and to ask why Labour is taking so long to fulfil promises it made on the subject when they came to power.

Mr Johnson said: "It's over five years since the government promised reform and as yet nothing has happened.

"Companies have a duty of care not only to their employees but to the public at large. If they don't carry out that duty of care, it's a criminal offence in my mind."

The Weymouth Rowing Club was set up following the death of Mr Douglas-Johnson, from Winterbourne Abbas, near Dorchester, Dorset.