The Inquest Department at Farleys represent families at some of the most difficult moments of their lives, following the death of a loved one in circumstances involving the state. Whether an individual has died in police custody, prison, a mental health setting or another form of detention, the inquest process can be complex, adversarial and emotionally overwhelming.
Organisations such as INQUEST play a crucial role in ensuring that bereaved families are not left to face this process alone. As the only charity in England and Wales providing specialist expertise on deaths involving the state, INQUEST works alongside families, lawyers and campaigners to push for truth, accountability and systemic change – values that closely align with our own approach to inquests work.
Supporting families through the inquest process
Inquests are meant to establish who someone was, and how, when and where they died. In reality, those aims are often complicated by institutional defensiveness, delays, and unequal access to representation.
Over the past year, INQUEST has continued to expand its support for bereaved families, combining one to one casework with workshops and events designed to help families understand their rights, ask the right questions, and participate meaningfully in proceedings. In 2025 alone, 796 families received specialist support.
For solicitors acting in inquests, this work is invaluable. Families who are informed, empowered and supported are far better placed to engage with the process and to ensure that key issues are explored fully and fairly.
Challenging failures in state accountability
INQUEST continues to play a vital role in scrutinising how the state investigates deaths for which it may bear responsibility. This includes:
• Giving evidence to major public inquiries
• Supporting families navigating inquests in England, Wales and Scotland
• Challenging investigative failures and procedural barriers
• Advocating for systems that prioritise transparency, independence and truth
This work is essential not only for individual families, but for public confidence in the justice system as a whole.
Driving legal and policy reform
INQUEST’s impact extends well beyond individual cases. Its campaigning and research work focuses on identifying patterns in deaths involving the state and addressing the root causes behind them.
Recent work has included supporting campaigns for Hillsborough Law, calling for independent oversight of state related deaths, and producing research that exposes how institutional failures disproportionately affect vulnerable people in custody or care.
For those of us practising in this area of law, these campaigns matter. Legal change, improved guidance and stronger investigatory frameworks can make a meaningful difference to the outcomes families experience at inquest.
Remembering lives – not just examining deaths
Inquests can easily become procedural, focusing narrowly on evidence and legal issues. INQUEST’s creative and commemorative work serves as an important reminder that every case represents a life lost and a family seeking answers.
Initiatives such as the Preventable exhibition, memorial projects and the Unlawful Killing podcast help ensure that the human impact of state related deaths is not overlooked. This perspective is essential in reinforcing why inquests matter and why they must be conducted thoroughly and with compassion.
Farleys has specialist experience representing bereaved families at inquests, including cases involving deaths in custody, mental health detention and other state settings. We provide clear, compassionate advice and will guide you through every stage of the process, keeping your loved one at the centre throughout.
If you would like to speak to a member of our inquests team, please get in touch for an initial, confidential discussion. Either call 01254 606 008, get in touch by email, or use the online chat below.
