Page 102 - When Things Go Wrong

implementation; 288 to give notice of non-compliance (where, for example,
289
no action is taken within a specific time) and to require recipients of such
notices to prepare an action plan. 290 However, we do not anticipate the
national oversight function would be at anywhere near the scale of the EHRC
or require the kind of resources afforded to it. For instance, it would not be
expected to make applications to court for injunctions, 291 bring its own judicial
reviews 292 or itself provide legal assistance. 293

6.24 Given the rapid turnover of Secretaries of State, the new body might also play
a role in briefing new Ministers on the status of the relevant implementation
projects. Ideally, it would also prepare thematic reviews regarding
implementation of related recommendations across multiple inquests and
inquiries, so that inquiry recommendations and PFD findings are not viewed
in silos but rather as part of a broader project to promote public safety.

6.25 As noted by Dame Elish Angiolini, 294 there would inevitably be a cost
associated with this recommendation. However, as with our proposal for the
SPI (see paras 2.40-2.85 and Annexe), the Working Party considers that the
proposal would bring long-term savings in preventing future deaths and the
costly investigations, inquests and inquiries that follow.

6.26 In any event, we note that in the last Parliamentary Session, the Government
had proposed creating a new arms-length role or office in the form of the
Independent Public Advocate. 295 In the course of consultation on the proposal,
JUSTICE expressed concern that as conceived it might “duplicate, or indeed

288 Ibid, s. 16(3).
289 Ibid, s. 21.
290 Ibid, s. 22.
291 Ibid, s. 24.
292 Ibid, s. 30.
293 Ibid, s. 28.
294 Angiolini, supra note 15, para 17.36.

295 Ministry of Justice, ‘Consultation on establishing an Independent Public Advocate’ (Cm 9701, 2018).
95