20 Oct 2009

Lords vote on hidden clauses in Bill that show secret inquests still possible

Despite a public climbdown in May, the Government intends to go ahead with plans to hold investigations into controversial deaths in secret, human rights group Liberty said today. Clauses buried in the Coroners and Justice Bill allow for an inquest to be suspended and a ‘secret inquiry’ held in its place.

Like the controversial secret inquest proposals, the inquiry would be instigated by the executive and could exclude bereaved families, legal representatives and the public from attending.

Isabella Sankey, Director of Policy for Liberty said:

"It beggars belief that this rotten policy has been resurrected. It is thoroughly perverse for a Government that has spent over a decade lecturing the public about victims' rights to attempt to exclude bereaved families from open justice.

When will New Labour’s obsession with secret courts and parallel legal systems end? There is no accountability without transparency."

The provisions will also allow a Minister to restrict disclosure or publication of any documents and withhold parts of the final report. In addition to limiting transparency, these proposals generate widespread concern about the consequences for bereaved families and the negative impact on public trust and confidence. The Coroners and Justice Bill reaches its final stage in the House of Lords today.

Contact: Mairi Clare Rodgers on 020 7378 3656 or 07973831128

Notes to editors

The Liberty, Justice and Inquest briefing on amendments to the Coroners and Justice bill can be found here (PDF)