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Alliance
to assist families bereaved from Work-related deaths
Families bereaved from work-related deaths can now
receive even better independent advice on investigation
and prosecution issues following work-related deaths.
Since 2001, the Centre for Corporate Accountability
(CCA) has run a free and independent advice service
for bereaved families on investigation and prosecution
issues arising out of the death. The CCA has two caseworkers
advising and assisting families.
Now,
as a result of a grant from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable
Trust, the Public Law Project - a national legal charity
- is providing free advice to CCA clients on whether
there are any legal grounds to challenge decisions
made by public bodies by way of judicial review or
using other public law remedies.
This
advice could concern any decision by the Health and
Safety Executive, Local Authorities, Police, the Crown
Prosecution Service or coroners, and could relate
to failures to
| • |
investigate,
or investigate adequately |
| • |
prosecute |
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to
hold an inquest |
As
a result of the joint work of the CCA and PLP, bereaved
families can now receive a seamless service on investigation
and prosecution issues including free legal advice
on whether they can challenge decisions made by public
bodies.
| On
11 November 2004, the two organisations are holding
their first joint training for lawyers, advice
workers, trade unions and others on these issues.
To read more about this,
click here. |
Bethan
Rigby, the CCA's senior caseworker said,
"The
purpose of this joint working is to try and ensure
that public bodies follow the law and their own
procedures and made appropriate decisions. It is
crucial that families can get free and speedy advice
on judicial review options, and we are now in a
position to offer this to families."
Already,
as a result of the advice given by PLP, the Health
and Safety Executive are reconsidering a number of
its investigation and prosecution decisions.
Clare
Collier, a solicitor from the Public Law Project said:
"The
great advantage of collaborative working such as
our current arrangement with the CCA is the greater
number of clients who can access specialist legal
advice which would normally be unavailable. Far
too few people realise that there is often something
that can be done, especially in making public bodies'
decisions more transparent and accountable. Often
the only way of achieving this is with legal assistance."
To
read more about the CCA's Advice Service, click
here
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