Luckily, Deborah from INQUEST contacted me. But for INQUEST contacting me, Adam's case would just be another dirty blanket left unturned. It would be another dirty blanket left behind closed doors for the Government to keep quiet about. It was through INQUEST, and my solicitors and others, that we have got where we have today. At Adam's first inquest, the coroner would not tell the jury what the law allowed and didn't allow, so Adam's first inquest was totally flawed. Then we had a big fight to get that inquest overturned and to get it stated that what happened to Adam was unlawful. It has been a really hard struggle, and without INQUEST, where would people be? – Carol Pounder, mother of 14 year Adam Rickwood, who was found hanging in his room following the use of restraint at Hassockfield Secure Training Centre in 2004
One of INQUEST’s core values is to “ensure that the collective experience of those with whom we work is fed back to the relevant policy makers”. In short INQUEST helps involve families with lobbying. The organisation is committed to helping families engage with the people who have the power to make real and lasting change.
The types of events that families have spoken at include:
- Family Listening Events for the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody which is part of the cross-government department Ministerial Council on Deaths in Custody attended by Ministers from the Health, Justice and Home Affairs’ departments
- an event for Baroness Jean Corston during her review of women with particular vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system
- a meeting for families with peers and MPs from the Joint Committee on Human Rights during their inquiry into deaths in custody
- oral evidence given to MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee on the effectiveness of the Independent Police Complaints Commission
- campaign meetings held in the Houses of Parliament for MPs, journalists and other charities to persuade the government to create a new Chief Coroner post to help improve the coroners’ system
- the launch of a research report on deaths of children and young people in prison
- a meeting (involving ten families) with the then Chief Inspector of Prisons (now Lord) David Ramsbotham during his thematic review of suicides in prison.
Some families are not ready to speak out publicly about their experiences but still want to share details of their case with policymakers. INQUEST regularly sends written evidence to MPs and Committees examining relevant issues and publishes research reports and briefings on different topics. Details of these can be found on the policy pages of INQUEST’s website. This evidence always contains examples from casework with families and INQUEST has worked with families to help write up their experiences so they can be included in these briefings and reports.
By joining forces with INQUEST, families have been able to lobby policy makers directly. It gives you the chance to communicate directly with people in power, and to help lobby for change to a system that has failed families in the past. Talk to the policy officer at INQUEST if you would be interested in getting involved in lobbying.
