The problem
After deaths in state custody and care, bereaved families are faced with inquests and investigations where they do not have equal footing with the institutions involved in the deaths. These investigations often take years.
Many bereaved families feel sidelined in inquests and investigations and that they place the blame with the people who have died, and whilst the state has access to unlimited legal funding, families do not have the same access to automatic legal aid for inquests.
Our work
We campaign for automatic non-means tested Legal Aid, challenge harmful practices within the inquest and justice system and ensure families’ experiences are heard by those in power through Family Listening Days.
Coronial reform is one of the keystones of INQUEST's longstanding work. We've had some significant impact over the years including:
- Advance disclosure
- Awareness of legal rights around post-mortems
- Legal aid funding
- Pen portraits
- Broadening the scope of inquests and their conclusions
- Prevention of future deaths reports
To learn more about our impact
Our demands
Today
The Government introduces a full Hillsborough Law to ensure:
- The introduction of a duty of candour to ensure public bodies tell the truth when things go wrong at inquests and inquiries.
- It becomes a criminal offence for public bodies to lie or cover up at inquests and inquiries.
- All bereaved families have access to legal aid at inquests involving the state.
Tomorrow
- The government and coronial system truly centre and support bereaved families to engage in inquests and investigations.
- The government establishes a National Oversight Mechanism to ensure recommendations following inquests and investigations are acted on to prevent further deaths.
