What is the Hillsborough Law?
The Hillsborough Law (AKA Public Office (Accountability) Bill) is proposed legislation intended to stop public bodies covering up failures and make it easier for families to uncover the truth after tragedies.
Why does is matter to ForThe100?
ForThe100 was founded by bereaved families who have spent years trying to understand what happened to their children at university.
Too often, families have struggled to obtain information, discovered important facts only through friends or third parties, or received information far too late to properly understand or question it.
“When a student dies, families should be able to establish what happened without having to fight for information or discover important facts by chance.”
— Liz de Oliveira, Lucy's mum
What does that look like in practice?
“It was only when Oskar's flatmates came forward that we learned they had raised serious concerns about his wellbeing with halls management and security staff. Without those students coming forward, we might never have known.”
— Maxine Carrick, Oskar's mum
“Following a cluster of student suicides at the University of Bristol, the Vice-Chancellor said publicly that the University carried out a forensic examination of the circumstances of every student suicide. So we asked for the report into our daughter's death — only to be told there wasn't one.”
— Maxine Carrick, Oskar's mum
So why does this Bill matter?
The Hillsborough Law is about what happens when things go seriously wrong. At its heart are principles of candour, openness and accountability.
Universities are unusual. They are independent organisations, but they also carry out public functions.
The Government has confirmed that universities can fall within the Bill when exercising public functions. But it is still unclear which university activities will be covered.
Student welfare? Student safety? Safeguarding? Handling serious incidents?
We think Parliament needs to make this clear.
What are we asking for?
We want the Public Office (Accountability) Bill to apply clearly and consistently to higher education.
We don't expect universities to provide healthcare or to be responsible for everything that happens to students.
But we do expect universities to be open and honest about their own actions — and their failure to act.
Families shouldn't have to argue about whether a particular university activity was a “public function” before they can expect candour.
The rules should be clear before something goes wrong — not argued about afterwards.