For the purposes of the IPA a major incident is defined as an incident that:
- Occurs in England or Wales after 18 September 2024;
- Causes the death of or serious harm to a significant number of individuals, and;
- Is declared in writing by the Secretary of State to be a major incident.
The Independent Public Advocate (IPA) is here to support victims of major incidents. You’re eligible for support if:
- You were physically present at the incident and experienced harm
- You’re a close family member or friend of someone who was present and either died or suffered serious, lasting harm
Harm includes physical, emotional, or mental impact, as defined by law. Serious harm means life-changing injuries that are unlikely to improve significantly.
Support is available to all victims including British nationals living abroad, or a foreign national who usually lives outside the UK.
Victims can be of any age. However, by law, advocates cannot directly support anyone under 18. Instead, they’ll work through a trusted adult representative.
Support from the IPA is completely optional. Everyone responds to trauma differently, and it’s up to you to decide what feels right.
As laid out in statute, the IPA will respond to major incidents that take place after September 2024. However, we know the IPA’s success depends on learning from the past and addressing where improvements need to be made. We are committed to hearing from those affected by past tragedies and making sure their experiences are listened to and embedded into the response to future incidents.