As UK Covid-19 deaths exceed 100,000 former Chief Crown Prosecutor, Nazir Afzal OBE seeks support and funding to get to the truth behind Government failures and campaign with other bereaved citizens and families to gain full public account for failures and ensure steps are taken now to stop more unnecessary deaths.

Each day the milestone of 100,000 deaths grows and many more have and continue to suffer extraordinary harm. We also know that this will continue to rise making the U.K. one of the worst affected countries in the world.

The Prime Minister says he takes full responsibility but that is meaningless without accountability for acts and omissions that accelerated the deaths of our fellow Britons.  And to reduce the risk of many further unnecessary deaths now, there needs to be an understanding of where, why and how things have gone wrong so far.  

That can only come from independent, public and urgent scrutiny of decisions and decision-makers.  We are told a public inquiry will be held but, the scope and timing of this are as yet unclear and delay risks lessons being learned too late.

A host of people have already expressed support for the campaign – many of them have lost loved ones. Others are concerned that as a nation we have been let down. 

What we plan to do

We ask for your support to understand what has gone wrong so far, explore the evidence and get the best legal advice on remedies, particularly urgent ones.  These might include examination of deaths, individual or trends.  It may include pressing the Government and authorities for information, explanations and, especially action on an inquiry into deaths.  Ideally this would lead to greater, immediate, informed, public and independent oversight of future decisions which is so desperately needed to restore some confidence that deaths do not follow.  

We will follow the evidence and guided by the legal, medical and expert advice.  This is not necessarily about prosecution, it’s about understanding the failures that contributed to the deaths of so many.

We are working with leading law firm, Hodge Jones and Allen Solicitors and other experts to investigate this tragedy, understand what lessons need to be learnt, identify whether individuals are responsible for serious errors and hold them to account if needs be. 

What’s at stake?

Trust and public confidence in Government and our institutions has taken a battering and citizens do not understand why we have got to the death toll that we have. We sadly know that many 1000s more will die or be left with life changing injury before the pandemic is under control. How we got here also determines where we end up. 

The decisions taken by Government have devastated families, communities and the country. A global pandemic has impacted on this country more than on equivalent nations. What we did needs to be understood. If these acts and omissions were negligent or even grossly negligent then justice should follow, but it’s most important that steps are taken now to reduce the likelihood of more harm.

Truth and Justice 

Ultimately, this is all we want. If one life lost could have been prevented by a decision then that family needs to know that accountability for that decision will be obtained. The evidence that is in the public domain demonstrates that there is a Case to Answer. 

The work you fund will examine the legal avenues to ensure proper independent scrutiny of Government decisions relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Depending on funding, we will aim to accumulate the evidence and follow it to wherever it takes us.

• Nobody is above the law and nor should they be.
• By funding this campaign, you will be expressing support for it.