Hillsborough Law Faces Scrutiny: Families Await Action
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LONDON — May 9, 2024 — The under-fire Hillsborough Law, designed to ensure openness following the 1989 disaster, is drawing sharp criticism for reportedly omitting crucial elements, including a “duty of candour.” The delay, stemming from consultation and drafting challenges, includes missing a key anniversary as stakeholders await action. Experts suggest it is a betrayal of the families’ needs, and the long wait continues to impact many.
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Hillsborough Law Faces Scrutiny: Families Await Action
Hillsborough Law: A Promise Unfulfilled?
The proposed Hillsborough Law, designed to ensure accountability and transparency from public authorities following major disasters, is facing criticism. A key lawyer involved in drafting the legislation has characterized the current situation as a betrayal
of the victims’ families.
The core aim of the Hillsborough Law is to mandate that public authorities and officials provide truthful accounts and fully cooperate during official investigations and inquiries. Failure to do so would result in criminal sanctions.
key components of the Original Bill
- Duty of Candour: Requires public officials to tell the truth.
- Cooperation: Mandates full cooperation with investigations.
- Legal Funding: Provides legal aid for those facing official bodies.
Abrahamson’s Critique
Elkan Abrahamson,who represents some of the families and serves as a director of the Hillsborough Law Now Campaign,has voiced strong concerns. He stated that the current draft bill omits critical elements.
We feel it is a betrayal. It does not contain a duty of candour which is what the whole idea of the bill is about. It also does not contain parity of funding which is the other thing that the bill was about.
Elkan Abrahamson,Director of Hillsborough Law Now Campaign
Government’s Position
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had initially pledged to introduce the law before the anniversary of the 1989 disaster, a deadline that has now passed. The government has sence indicated that more time is needed to finalize the bill.
A spokesman for the prime minister addressed the delay:
Having consulted with groups over recent weeks and months, we believe more time is needed to draft the best version of a Hillsborough Law.
