A new touring exhibition from the Centre for People's Justice offers a powerful insight into a landmark new law designed to end cover-ups by those in public office. Candour and Communities shines a light on some of the most devastating disasters and scandals over the past century - all of which are marked by a widespread culture of lies and concealment by public authorities across the UK.
To mark the start of the exhibition, Belfast's The Linen Hall library will host a public talk on the Hillsborough Law as it passes through Parliament. This historic new law - officially known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill -will impose a new 'duty of candour' on all those in public office across the UK and impose criminal sanctions on those who breach it.
The talk on Wednesday 4 February will be presented by Lee Castleton OBE, former Sub Post Master and victim of the Post Office Scandal. Lee is a founder member of the Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance (JFSA). Lee was played by Will Mellor in the award-winning ITV drama, Mr Bates vs The Post Office. After twenty years of fighting, Lee is still waiting for justice, along with hundreds of his fellow victims.
Professor Helen Stalford, principal convenor of the Centre for People's Justice, will also summarise the proposed content, scope and potential impact of the new Hillsborough Law.
The event marks the launch of a new touring and digital exhibition, Candour and Communities, curated by the University of Liverpool-based Centre for People's Justice. Co-created with the communities affected, the exhibition explores fifteen disasters, scandals and injustices over the past 100 years and highlights how institutional cover-ups caused and deepened suffering.
The Candour and Communities exhibition shines a light on some of the most devastating disasters and scandals over the past century - all of which are marked by a widespread culture of lies and concealment by public authorities across the UK.
Through retelling these interconnected stories of shared injustice, the exhibition reflects on how the Public Office (Accountability) Bill might have impacted these cases.
The exhibition invites members of the public to share their views and consider how they can shape the Hillsborough Law as it passes through Parliament. Regarded as a "people's law", the Hillsborough Law is the result of decades of public campaigning by bereaved families and victims. The Centre for People's Justice is currently playing a crucial role in bringing public opinion into the parliamentary process as the new law is drafted, and attendees will be invited to engage in this process.
Click here to book tickets for Lee Castleton's talk on February 4th at Linen Hall Library.
Candour and Communities will tour around the UK between January and April 2026:
Mon 9th - Fri 13th February 2026, 9am-2pm
Wrexham Miners Project, Wrexham
Mon 16th - Wed 18th February 2026, 8:30am-5:30pm
Wave Centre, Sheffield University
Thurs 19th - Tue 24th February 2026
Stiwt Theatre, Rhosllannerchrugog, Wrexham
Mon 2nd - Fri 6th March, 8am-6pm (except Tuesday 3rd, 8am-4pm)
Orbit Business Centre, Merthyr Tydfil
Mon 30th - Tue 31st March, 9am-5pm
St Comgall's, Falls Road, Belfast
Further venues and dates to follow.
You can also view the exhibition content online here: Candour & Communities - Centre for People's Justice
