MPs study government proposal for Independent Public Advocate following disasters
The government’s proposal to establish an independent public advocate to help the victims of public disasters is to be examined by the Justice Committee.
The government announced its intention to introduce an ‘independent public advocate’ in 2018 following campaigns led by the families affected by the 1989 Hillsborough football stadium disaster when 97 Liverpool fans were killed in a crush – the worst-ever crowd related tragedy at a sports event in Britain. Victims and relatives said they experienced unnecessary further pain and suffering after the disaster at the hands of the authorities, the press and other parties.
The Justice Committee is looking into proposals that are being debated in Parliament as part of the Victims and Prisoners Bill – a Bill which, among many other provisions, proposes the creation of an office for an Independent Public Advocate in England and Wales. The Government’s proposals would in practice involve an individual or group of independent public advocates who would support victims and their relatives in the aftermath of a public disaster and during any inquests or inquiries.
The Committee session is designed to inform debate on the Bill by airing the views of some of those involved in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster and the views of people who have been involved in previous initiatives to create a role for advocates. Critics of the planned role of the Independent Public Advocate have suggested that it may be insufficiently independent of government and lack appropriate powers to compel the production of evidence.
Likely areas of questioning
Witnesses, including some directly affected by the Hillsborough disaster and involved in the campaign for justice in its aftermath, will reflect on their experiences and will be asked about how an Independent Public Advocate could help in response to future disasters. They are also likely to be asked about how such an advocate would work in practice and what their role might be in inquests and public inquiries.