21 Oct 2009

In a vote today the House of Lords threw out clauses buried in the Coroners and Justice Bill which would allow for an inquest to be suspended and a 'secret inquiry' held in its place.

Isabella Sankey, Director of Policy for Liberty:

"Once again the Upper Chamber has delivered a victory for fundamental rights and the rule of law. How dare MPs that spent years lecturing us about victims’ rights seek to deprive bereaved families of the open justice that is the only point of an inquest?

"National security can be protected within the jury system as it has been for centuries but the relatives of those who die on the Government’s watch - whether in Brixton or Basra – are entitled to know why."

Despite a public climbdown in May, the Government intended to go ahead with plans to hold investigations into controversial deaths in secret. 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.

Contact: Mairi Clare Rodgers on 020 7378 3656 or 07973831128

Notes to editors

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