Petitions/Make Neglect in Public Office a Specific Criminal Offence
StatusClosed
Opened12 Sept 2025
Closes12 Mar 2026
Government response
Parliamentary debateNot eligible
Milestones

Create a new criminal offence of Neglect in Public Office. We believe this would provide an improved means through which to hold public officials — including ministers, social workers, and civil servants — legally accountable if their actions or failures cause serious harm, trauma, or death.

We believe that many people have died, suffered abuse, or lost vital support because of what we feel is systemic neglect by public bodies. Yet we think that often, no one is held personally responsible. Victims deserve justice. We think there must be improved ways through which those in power can be held accountable if their failures destroy lives.

10,000
100,000

Constituency engagement ranking

Samantha Dixon
1Samantha Dixon MP
Chester North and Neston
4
Barry Gardiner
2Barry Gardiner MP
Brent West
2
Sir Julian Smith
3Sir Julian Smith MP
Skipton and Ripon
2
John Cooper
4John Cooper MP
Dumfries and Galloway
2
Claire Hughes
5Claire Hughes MP
Bangor Aberconwy
2
Torsten Bell
6Torsten Bell MP
Swansea West
2
Wera Hobhouse
7Wera Hobhouse MP
Bath
1
Al Carns
8Al Carns MP
Birmingham Selly Oak
1
Graham Stringer
9Graham Stringer MP
Blackley and Middleton South
1
Alex Burghart
10Alex Burghart MP
Brentwood and Ongar
1
Make Neglect in Public Office a Specific Criminal Offence — Petitions