INQUEST was commissioned by the MoJ to convene a Family Listening Day with families and victims to discuss their experiences of the inquest and public inquiry process following state-related deaths, harm or injustice.
The government have committed to bringing forward a Hillsborough Law, which aims to “rebuild trust and foster respect” and “address the unacceptable defensive culture prevalent across too much of the public sector” by introducing a duty of candour for public servants and authorities and private entities undertaking public work.
The government have also committed to, alongside legislation, providing legal aid for victims of disasters or state-related deaths. While the government’s commitment to enshrining a Hillsborough Law has been made multiple times, the Bill has not yet been published.
The Family Listening Day provided an opportunity for those impacted to share their experiences with officials working on the Bill to inform the legislation.
Despite the considerable differences in circumstance represented during the event, attendees’ testimony reflected many shared experiences and a desire to see the power of the state and its agents redressed.
The report concludes that the Hillsborough Law must be implemented in its entirety, with no dilution of the Public Authority Accountability Bill previously tabled in 2017 to properly ensure justice and accountability for bereaved families.
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Every year, INQUEST supports hundreds of families bereaved by deaths involving the state. We are independent of government and entirely reliant on grants and donations to continue our vital work.
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