Ryan FowlerThe Ministry of Justice and Lord Bellamy KC announced a consultation today on making it easier for organisations to apologise to those they have wronged. This follows the recognition that, despite the Compensation Act of 2006, there’s been little increase in organisations using apologies as a form of reparation.
The consultation seeks views on the application of a “Law of Apologies”, especially in cases of child sexual abuse, aiming to support victims and potentially reduce lengthy court disputes. It responds to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) recommendation for employers to offer apologies for vicarious liability instances.
Justice Minister, Lord Bellamy, highlighted the importance of apologies in the justice system, stating: “The place of apologies in the justice system is becoming increasingly important, and this Consultation will explore ways of strengthening this role, not least to enable victims to find closure and move on with their lives.”
The IICSA’s investigations revealed the significant value victims place on apologies from institutions, with some survivors stating that “an apology…would have been priceless to me, and worth more than any amount of money” and that “an apology or acceptance for what I had been through is worth more than any amount of compensation.”
The consultation follows a Private Members’ Bill introduced by John Howell MP, which did not pass but aimed to allow apologies without creating legal liability. Howell MP expressed his support for the consultation, saying: “I am delighted that this has come forward. It should be the mark of both a mature democratic society, and, of its dispute resolution system, that an apology, whether made publicly or privately, can and should be allowed to be meaningful, and, helpful rather than simply a necessary yet tokenistic gesture.”
