Police officers and civil servants could be subject to a new "duty of candour" under a "Hillsborough amendment" passed by Labour.
The amendment, which was added to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in the face of government opposition, would require the police to "act at all times in the public interest and with transparency, candour and frankness and to assist in court proceedings, official inquiries and investigations".
The amendment was passed by 252 to 179 votes in the House of Lords, but the government could still overturn the move when the Bill returns to the House of Commons for further scrutiny.
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A duty of candour was first proposed by Bishop James Jones in his 2017 report on Hillsborough to address "the unacceptable behaviour of police officers, serving or retried, who fail to co-operate fully with investigations into alleged criminal offences or misconduct".
Last June the Government told Parliament that proposals for a duty of candour were still being considered, but this evening ministers ordered peers to vote against any such plan in the House of Lords.
Labour's Home Office spokesman Lord Rosser said: "The fact that we're now four years on from Bishop James Jones's report, and the government is still considering its response simply indicates what a relatively low priority this issue is.
"It is time for action and a decision and an end to the never ending continuing Government consideration of this issue."
Tory Home Office minister Baroness Williams justified opposing the amendment saying that "extensive work has already been done to improve integrity and openness in policing."
She said: "In February of 2020, we introduced a statutory duty of cooperation for serving police officers as part of wider integrity reforms.
"This duty to cooperate actually puts a greater onus on officers than the duty of candour provided for in this amendment as they could ultimately be dismissed for a breach."
The minister also noted that the College of Policing was currently reviewing its code, adding: "The government is confident that the work of the college will ensure that that the candour is directly addressed."
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