What Hillsborough Law Will Achieve

Hillsborough Law requires public authorities across the UK to implement high standards of ethical conduct and a duty of candour at all times among everyone who works for them.

Public authorities must adopt and enforce a code of ethical conduct, ensure that all workers are aware of it, and make the code publicly available.

Hillsborough Law introduces a new criminal offence of ‘misleading the public’. If a public official deceives the public and knows, or ought to know that what they are doing is ‘seriously improper’ they could face up to two years imprisonment.

Hillsborough Law introduces a ‘duty of candour and assistance’ to require public officials across the UK to act with candour, transparency and frankness when giving evidence to inquests and inquiries.

The duty of candour and assistance also requires public authorities to openly share what they know about their own actions or inactions at the beginning of proceedings.

Hillsborough Law introduces a new criminal offence of failing to comply with the duty of candour and assistance. If the failure is intentional or reckless, a public official may face up to two yearsimprisonment, a fine, or both.

Hillsborough Law introduces a new “overriding objective” to ensure that bereaved people and affected family members can participate fully and have legal representation at inquests and inquiries.

Hillsborough Law provides the right to Legal Aid funding at inquests for bereaved families in England and Wales when they are seeking the truth from public authorities about what has happened.

Hillsborough Law introduces new duties to improve the way that public authorities and their legal teams  behave at inquests and inquiries.