Government True Colours Show As It Betrays Bereaved Families

A government decision to scrap a review of the inquest system and abolish the position of chief coroner before it is even established is a betrayal of bereaved families, campaigners have said. Once again the political idealogy is showing through as the government attacks the vunerable in society.

The creation of the position and a review of the system as a whole were hard won by campaigners. Inquest co-director Deborah Coles said it was 'dishonest' of the government to claim that tweaking the existing rules would deliver the fundamental changes need. 'The dysfunctional and flawed inquest system is in need of complete reform,' she said. 'Not only does this decision fail bereaved families but also society, which should have an inquest system fit for purpose in the 21st century.

The inquest is usually the only public forum in which contentious deaths such as accidents, deaths at work, deaths in custody or deaths of military personnel are subjected to public scrutiny. The current system is failing to perform its preventative function.' She said the government backtracking 'will frustrate the opportunity to create a system which saves lives. This is a false economy if there ever was one.' Families Against Corporate Killers (FACK) spokesperson Hilda Palmer said it was 'equivalent to the government standing safely on the banks watching vulnerable families drown in a sea of apathy and unaccountability.'

Source: TUC Risks

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