9th May 2012

Helen Shaw, INQUEST co-director said:

“It is deeply regrettable that the government is pursuing proposals to extend the use of closed material procedures.

“It has been clearly demonstrated that they have not been necessary in relation to inquests, as the Joint Committee on Human Rights unanimously concluded last month.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

INQUEST’s evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights can be accessed here

INQUEST provides a general telephone advice, support and information service to any bereaved person facing an inquest and a free, in-depth complex casework service on deaths in custody/state detention or involving state agents and works on other cases that also engage article 2 of the ECHR and/or raise wider issues of state and corporate accountability. INQUEST’s policy and parliamentary work is informed by its casework and we work to ensure that the collective experiences of bereaved people underpin that work. Its overall aim is to secure an investigative process that treats bereaved families with dignity and respect; ensures accountability and disseminates the lessons learned from the investigation process in order to prevent further deaths occurring.

Please refer to INQUEST the organisation in all capital letters in order to distinguish it from the legal hearing.