Earlier this month, the new government detailed their priorities for the months ahead in the King’s Speech. The speech set out several proposed laws, which included a commitment to Awaab’s Law, arising from the death of Awaab Ishak, and the Hillsborough Law, arising from the deaths of 97 people who were unlawfully killed.
Awaab’s Law
Two-year-old Awaab Ishak died in December 2020. The inquest into his death concluded on 15th November 2022, with the Coroner finding that Awaab died as a result of a severe respiratory condition due to prolonged exposure to mould in his home environment.
After campaigns for Awaab’s Law, the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 became law in July 2023 and a consultation period was heard earlier this year. The law strengthens powers to tackle tenants living in unsafe social housing, including an introduction of strict timescales within which social landlords must make their properties safe where they contain serious health hazards, such as mould and damp.
In the King’s Speech, the government detailed its plans to extend Awaab’s Law to the private rental sector, as part of the new Renters’ Rights Bill. In his introduction to the King’s Speech, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Too many people currently live with the threat of insecurity and injustice, and so we will make sure everyone can grow up in the secure housing they deserve. We will introduce tough new protections for renters, end no-fault evictions and raise standards to make sure homes are safe for people to live in.”
Awaab’s family were represented at his inquest by Kelly Darlington and Alice Wood of Farleys’ Inquest Team and Christian Weaver at Garden Court North Chambers.
You can read more about Awaab’s inquest and the updates on Awaab’s Law here:
Awaab Ishak – Coroner Finds Prolonged Exposure to Mould Led Entirely to Death
Family and Legal Team Statements Following Awaab’s Law Consultation
Hillsborough Law
The Hillsborough Law Now campaign have also hailed the announcement for a Hillsborough Law, included in the King’s Speech, as having the potential to ‘save and change lives’.
The families of those who died in the Hillsborough disaster have been fighting for justice on multiple fronts since 1989, including two inquests, the second of which ended in 2016 and concluded that those who died had been unlawfully killed. The Hillsborough Law arises from the cover-up following the disaster, with state bodies placing the blame on the survivors and those that died. The Public Authorities (Accountability) Bill, known as Hillsborough Law, is a draft law that would enforce a duty of candour on state authorities and officers and private entities whose activities impact on public safety.
Inquests, public inquiries and investigations into deaths can often struggle and fail to uncover the truth as officials try to protect themselves. This law would bring in a duty of candour on public authorities and officials to tell the truth and proactively cooperate with official investigations and inquiries.
You can read more here.
Calls for a National Oversight Mechanism
This week, a coalition of over 40 organisations have written to the new Prime Minister to ask him to address the lack of accountability, transparency and action on recommendations arising from these types of deaths.
Inquests, public inquiries and investigations are processes which have identified numerous failing systems and dangerous practices and make important recommendations to save lives. These include recommendations following the disasters like Hillsborough and Grenfell, and also recommendations arising from the deaths of people in mental health, prison and police detention. There is currently no framework to monitor the compliance set out in the responses by state bodies to the recommendations made.
The coalition is calling on the government to make a National Oversight Mechanism. This would be a new independent public body, responsible for monitoring recommendations arising from inquests, inquiries, investigations and reviews into state-related deaths.
You can read more here
Coping with the loss of a loved one is a devastating and traumatic time under any circumstances, but it can be particularly distressing if there are uncertainties around the involvement that state agencies had in the death.
The inquest team at Farleys has a wealth of experience in assisting families at this difficult time and if you would like to discuss inquest representation and legal aid funding then please get in touch with us on 0845 287 0939, contact us by email, or use the online chat below.
