*From INQUEST's Instagram page*
We, alongside 10 other human rights groups are calling on the Home Secretary to reconsider her plans that will weaken the public’s ability to scrutinise police conduct.
At a time when use of force is rising, deaths following police contact continue, and trust in policing is at crisis point, these proposals move in entirely the wrong direction.
Following a rapid review into two landmark Supreme Court rulings, the Government plans to:
🟣 Overturn the W80 judgment, raising the threshold for challenging a police officer’s use of force and dramatically reducing the number of cases that reach misconduct hearings.
🟣 Consult on changing the Maughan ruling, making it harder for inquests to reach unlawful killing conclusions - limiting accountability not only in police‑related deaths, but across other critical areas of state responsibility.
The Government’s rationale for these sweeping changes lacks evidence, ignores the experiences of bereaved families, and will open the door to further racism and discrimination by the police.
Speaking to the Guardian, Mohannad Bashir, whose brother died after being restrained by Gwent police, against whom no wrongdoing was found, said: “Mouayed’s death continues to have a huge impact on me and my family but the system favours the police more than bereaved families.”
Our director Deborah Coles, said: “Changing the law to please the police lobby – at the expense of bereaved people and victims – will simply advance the culture of impunity.
This letter reflects our dismay at the government’s plans to weaken police accountability in the face of well-documented misogyny, racism and violence.”