Duty of Candour: What it means and what next
Under Pressure 22 November 2024
Duty of Candour: What it means and what next
Where does the truth rest when an emergency or disaster occurs? I have been at the centre of some disaster response situations and it isn’t as simple as it may sound. The information at the start of events is sketchy and often will be subject to change. Yet those entrusted with the response want to provide clarity and the often discussed ‘narrative’ about the situation. Police are often very focused on this narrative because of the need to ensure an effective investigation into circumstances. But this is going to be challenged.
By April 2025 the UK Government has said it is going to introduce a Duty of Candour - which was known as the Hillsborough Law. It will require responding organisations and those involved to be honest and truthful about situations and to support inquiries and reviews about the response. This is expected to have a big impact and is already being discussed by lawyers. It is why Professor Lucy Easthope a renowned disaster expert joined me to discuss the situation.
We shared some key points in this article I shared on LinkedIn this week after the event. There is a lot of detail that needs to be ironed out and both Lucy and I made a plea for emergency responders and communicators to be involved in the creation of the legislation. The duty will put a focus on honesty and integrity in the crisis response. Lucy says families should not have to ”root” out the answers with the right questions and I add that communicators should not perform linguistic gymnastics to try to manipulate the situation.
PR and communication has an opportunity to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. I hope that we take it. (If you want to find out more about my thoughts on truth and reputation read a recent blog here.) The last word goes to Lucy who gave the following top tips:
practise implementing the duty and what it means
be open spirited and open hearted in emergency response
exercise what the duty means and
learn what works when connecting and working with the bereaved.
Note: Lucy has a new book Come What May due to be published in May 2025 but available for pre-order now.
Training Plan for 2025
Amanda has outlined an exciting crisis communication and issues management training plan for 2025. The details will be shared on social media. Here is an early outline of the calendar for the next 12 months.
Preparing for disaster
Norwegian residents have received a leaflet explaining what they need to do in the event of a disaster or emergency. It sparked some concerns about the reason why it was sent to everyone in the country. The Times in the UK reported that people were advised to stockpile water, fuel and iodine tablets. Elisabeth Aarsæther, director of Norway’s Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB), said this was a reflection of the increased risks to her country’s security. (Read more here.) The UK did something similar earlier this year. It is important that we continue to discuss the practical steps that everyone can take to try and be more crisis ready no matter what the threat may be. There is also a website that provides more details (see it here). Sweden has also been sharing more information about how to be ready for potential crisis situations. They have used the title ‘if crisis or war comes’. (Find out more here)
Cyber security: take action now
In recent weeks my attention has been drawn to the challenges in the cyber space not just for communicators but also for small businesses. If you haven’t checked it out the National Cyber Security Centre have a lot of information available for small businesses. It includes this staff training package that is freely available. (Check it out here) Other features on the site include a regular newsletter and updates on the latest issues. In a world where the cyber threat is more than real - latest research stating that 50 per cent of business have suffered an attack or attempt in the past year.
In Brief:
Fiji’s national disaster management office has developed a cartoon iguana to help children understand what they need to do in the event of emergencies. Check Iggy out here.
Social media newbie and X replacer Blue Sky has topped 20million users. It claims to be closing the gap quickly on Threads which was established to be a challenge to X. Find out more here.
The challenges of smartphones in conflict is considered in an OUP blog published recently. It considers the impact of the smartphone beyond using it for social media. Read more here.
It might feel like we are experiencing more crises but recent research has shown there is just more coverage of them. Find out more here.
Congratulations to Kjell Brataas for the publication of his latest book on Disaster Memorials. Amanda will provide a review in a forthcoming edition of Under Pressure. Find out more here.
There is a great opinion piece about the importance of crisis communicators and lawyers working together that appeared on the Provoke Media website. Read more here.
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) have published a crisis communication and social media guide. Find out more here.
Security magazine considers the approach needed to manage evacuations following a number of recent incidents. Read more here.
Forbes identify that 80 per cent of businesses in a recent survey had not considered AI-related crises. Find out why here.
A recent article on the Franchising website looks at McDonalds and what they could have done during the recent food contamination problems. Read more here.
Diary dates:
28 November - Amanda is running a final training session for 2024 giving an opportunity to work through a crisis and consider the actions you would take. For more details or to book a space contact office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk
6 December - Amanda is guest chairing a webinar on Reflections and projections about human risk in the cyber space for SASIG events. Find out more here.