Key Takeaways:
- The new Independent Public Advocate (IPA) Cindy Butts has stated that victims of disasters such as Hillsborough and Grenfell having to wait years for justice is "shameful and a stain on our society".
- The IPA role was created to ensure victims of large incidents know their rights, get access to support, and are represented in inquiries and inquests.
- Butts aims to uncover the truth in the immediate aftermath of large tragedies to avoid lengthy public inquiries and will be able to produce independent reports on incidents without ministerial approval.
- The IPA will work to build trust with people who are "justifiably mistrustful" of the state and its institutions.
- Butts has called for more resources for her office and would like to expand the role to include individual deaths in "exceptional circumstances" where there is a significant public interest.
Introduction to the Independent Public Advocate Role
The new Independent Public Advocate (IPA), Cindy Butts, has spoken out about the need for justice to be served in a timely manner for victims of disasters such as Hillsborough and Grenfell. In her first interview in the role, Butts stated that it is "shameful and a stain on our society" that people are forced to wait years for justice after tragedies involving state failings in England and Wales. Butts, who has a long history in advocacy work, has been appointed to the role to ensure that victims of large incidents know their rights, get access to support, and are represented in inquiries and inquests.
The Need for Immediate Action
Butts emphasized the importance of uncovering the truth in the immediate aftermath of large tragedies to avoid lengthy public inquiries. She believes that by doing so, the need for substantial inquiries and reports can be avoided, and justice can be served more quickly. Butts also highlighted the need for victims and their families to be treated with respect and dignity, rather than being forced to "become investigators and de facto lawyers" in order to get justice. This approach is a stark contrast to the traditional methods of handling such incidents, where families are often left to navigate the complex and often frustrating process of seeking justice on their own.
The IPA’s Role and Responsibilities
The IPA role is the first of its kind in the world, and Butts will be responsible for ensuring that victims of large incidents receive the support and representation they need. She will also be able to produce independent reports on incidents without the need for ministerial approval, which will allow her to provide a more objective and unbiased perspective on the events that have occurred. Butts has already begun her work, traveling to Manchester to support the victims of the synagogue terror attack just days after starting her five-year term in September. Her office has set up a dedicated casework function to provide victims, families, and the wider community with a direct route to information, advocacy, and practical help.
Building Trust and Credibility
Butts has acknowledged that one of her biggest challenges will be building trust with people who are "justifiably mistrustful" of the state and its institutions. She has stated that her ambition is to quickly build credibility and to show through her actions that her loyalty is with victims, not with institutions. Butts has a long history of advocacy work, including her role as a commissioner at the Independent Police Complaints Commission (now the Independent Office for Police Conduct) during its Hillsborough investigation. She has also chaired the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, which published a landmark report in 2023 finding the sport to be "racist, sexist, and elitist".
Expanding the Role and Increasing Resources
Butts has called for more resources for her office, which is currently funded primarily by the Ministry of Justice. She believes that she does not have enough funding and staff to deal with a large-scale incident, although the body can "draw down funds" if needed. Butts has also expressed a desire to expand the role to include individual deaths in "exceptional circumstances" where there is a significant public interest, such as in cases similar to Harry Dunn and Stephen Lawrence. This expansion would allow the IPA to provide support and representation to a wider range of victims and their families, and would help to ensure that justice is served in a more timely and effective manner.
The Hillsborough Law and Future Legislation
Butts has welcomed the Hillsborough law, which is currently making its way through parliament, and which will lead to public servants who deliberately cover up state-related disasters facing prison. However, she has also highlighted some significant shortcomings in the legislation, including the fact that victims’ families are absent from the bill itself. Butts believes that this is a "massive legitimacy gap" and has called for full implementation of the law. She has also stated that the very fact that this legal duty of candour is required tells us how deep and persistent the problems have been, and that it is "truly shameful" that legislation is needed at all. By working to address these issues and to provide support and representation to victims and their families, Butts hopes to help create a more just and equitable system for all.
