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Institutional Failure
When organisations, authorities, or systems fail to protect people from harm, fail to investigate abuse, or prioritise the interests of powerful individuals over victims’ safety.
This information is not legal advice – it is meant to signpost information only. Please seek a professional opinion before taking action.
Legal definition
Not a single statutory definition, but widely used across public inquiries, safeguarding guidance, judicial review, and human rights law to describe negligence, systemic omissions, or dereliction of duty.
What it looks like in real life
Police, CPS, or employers dismissing reports because the accused is influential.
Institutions protecting their reputation instead of supporting survivors.
Longstanding patterns of abuse or complaints going uninvestigated.
Survivors being discouraged from reporting or denied access to justice.
Survivors for Survivors
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