Address the harm so survivors can heal
The Nolan Principles guide behaviour in public life, but they don't address what happens when institutions cause harm.
We need to update them with a restorative framework that puts survivors at the centre and prevents future harm.
From harm to healing
The Nolan Principles guide behaviour in public life, but they don't address what happens when institutions cause harm.
We need to update them with a restorative framework that puts survivors at the centre and prevents future harm.
Address the harm so survivors can heal
Leaders of institutional public bodies stand at a defining crossroads: continue to uphold systems that obscure harm and recycle broken practices, or step forward into a new era of integrity, care, and accountability.
50%
50%
of the public say systems can't hold institutions accountable when they cause harm
62%
62%
of the public want survivors involved in the response - it's time to listen
53%
53%
of the public say preventing similar future harm is most important
The problem: institutions that cause harm have no guidance on how to respond
Parliament is currently debating two pieces of accountability legislation:
The Public Authority (Accountability) Bill - reactive legislation that responds to scandals after they happen
The Public Service (Ethics, Integrity and Independence) Bill - structural oversight focused on appointments and standards
Neither addresses how institutions should respond when they cause harm. Current Nolan Principles guide how public servants should behave, but give no guidance on what to do when things go wrong.
When institutions cause harm, they default to:
Deny what happened
Protect institutional reputation
Exclude survivors from responses
Learn nothing from failures
This pattern repeats because there's no framework for institutional response to harm.
Survivors need institutions that:
acknowledge what went wrong quickly and honestly
apologise meaningfully without legal defensiveness
give survivors a voice in how institutions respond
change systems to prevent repetition
Deltapoll interviewed 1,524 British adults online between 4th and 7th April 2025
Deltapoll interviewed 2,027 UK adults online between 29th August to 1st September 2025
The problem: institutions that cause harm have no guidance on how to respond
Parliament is currently debating two pieces of accountability legislation:
The Public Authority (Accountability) Bill - reactive legislation that responds to scandals after they happen
The Public Service (Ethics, Integrity and Independence) Bill - structural oversight focused on appointments and standards
Neither addresses how institutions should respond when they cause harm. Current Nolan Principles guide how public servants should behave, but give no guidance on what to do when things go wrong.
When institutions cause harm, they default to:
Deny what happened
Protect institutional reputation
Exclude survivors from responses
Learn nothing from failures
This pattern repeats because there's no framework for institutional response to harm.
Survivors need institutions that:
acknowledge what went wrong quickly and honestly
apologise meaningfully without legal defensiveness
give survivors a voice in how institutions respond
change systems to prevent repetition
Deltapoll interviewed 1,524 British adults online between 4th and 7th April 2025 and
Deltapoll interviewed 2,027 UK adults online between 29th August to 1st September 2025
The problem: institutions that cause harm have no guidance on how to respond
Parliament is currently debating two pieces of accountability legislation:
The Public Authority (Accountability) Bill - reactive legislation that responds to scandals after they happen
The Public Service (Ethics, Integrity and Independence) Bill - structural oversight focused on appointments and standards
Neither addresses how institutions should respond when they cause harm. Current Nolan Principles guide how public servants should behave, but give no guidance on what to do when things go wrong.
When institutions cause harm, they default to:
Deny what happened
Protect institutional reputation
Exclude survivors from responses
Learn nothing from failures
This pattern repeats because there's no framework for institutional response to harm.
Survivors need institutions that:
acknowledge what went wrong quickly and honestly
apologise meaningfully without legal defensiveness
give survivors a voice in how institutions respond
change systems to prevent repetition
Deltapoll interviewed 1,524 British adults online between 4th and 7th April 2025
Deltapoll interviewed 2,027 UK adults online between 29th August to 1st September 2025
Our solution: two changes to embed restorative approaches
Establish survivor-led oversight with real enforcement power to ensure restorative responses happen.
Restore original provisions of Hillsborough Law
Demanding full implementation of protections first promised in the bill.
Office for institutional accountability
A permanent watchdog for institutions facing legal scrutiny.
Update the Nolan Principles to require prevention
Transform the seven principles of public life into a restorative framework that requires institutions to take preventative action after any harm or scandal.
Create an office for institutional accountability
Create independent oversight ending the "tortfeasor as compensator" problem where institutions investigate their own failures funded by 2% levy on compensation schemes.
Create an office for institutional accountability
Create independent oversight ending the "tortfeasor as compensator" problem where institutions investigate their own failures funded by 2% levy on compensation schemes.
Restore original provisions of Hillsborough Law
Demanding full implementation of protections first promised in the bill.
Office for institutional accountability
A permanent watchdog for institutions facing legal scrutiny.
Update the Nolan Principles to require prevention
Transform the seven principles of public life into a restorative framework that requires institutions to take preventative action after any harm or scandal.
Update the Nolan Principles
Add four restorative principles: acknowledgement, apology, accountability with survivor voice, and amends through prevention.
Create an office for institutional accountability
Create independent oversight ending the "tortfeasor as compensator" problem where institutions investigate their own failures funded by 2% levy on compensation schemes.
Restore original provisions of Hillsborough Law
Demanding full implementation of protections first promised in the bill.
Office for institutional accountability
A permanent watchdog for institutions facing legal scrutiny.
Update the Nolan Principles to require prevention
Transform the seven principles of public life into a restorative framework that requires institutions to take preventative action after any harm or scandal.
Create an office for institutional accountability
Create independent oversight ending the "tortfeasor as compensator" problem where institutions investigate their own failures funded by 2% levy on compensation schemes.
Create an office for institutional accountability
Create independent oversight ending the "tortfeasor as compensator" problem where institutions investigate their own failures funded by 2% levy on compensation schemes.
Leaders of institutional public bodies stand at a defining crossroads: continue to uphold systems that obscure harm and recycle broken practices, or step forward into a new era of integrity, care, and accountability.
Leaders of institutional public bodies stand at a defining crossroads: continue to uphold systems that obscure harm and recycle broken practices, or step forward into a new era of integrity, care, and accountability.
Take action now
Parliament is currently debating accountability legislation but there's a critical gap.
The Public Authority (Accountability) Bill responds after scandals happen.
The Public Service (Ethics, Integrity and Independence) Bill focuses on appointments and standards.
Neither tells institutions how to respond when they cause harm.
This is our opportunity to embed restorative approaches into the ethical foundation of public service.
Join the coalition for institutional accountability
Stay updated on campaign progress
© 2025 Coalition for Institutional Accountability. Operated by The WayFinders Institute (CIO pending).
Join the coalition for institutional accountability
Stay updated on campaign progress
© 2025 Coalition for Institutional Accountability. Operated by The WayFinders Institute (CIO pending).
Join the coalition for institutional accountability
Stay updated on campaign progress
© 2025 Coalition for Institutional Accountability. Operated by The WayFinders Institute (CIO pending).
Research & white paper
Our campaign builds on research from ‘From harm to healing: rebuilding trust in Britain’s publicly funded institutions’ – documenting systematic failures across police, NHS, family courts, and the Home Office.
Read our
white paper
Research & white paper
Our campaign builds on research from ‘From harm to healing: rebuilding trust in Britain’s publicly funded institutions’ – documenting systematic failures across police, NHS, family courts, and the Home Office.
Read our
white paper
© 2025 Coalition for Institutional Accountability. Operated by The WayFinders Institute (CIO pending).
© 2025 Coalition for Institutional Accountability. Operated by The WayFinders Institute (CIO pending).