Reports & recommendations
169 recommendations from 3 reports, each with the government response on the record. Filter by government response, report or delivery status.
Reports (3)
| Title | Volume | Publication Date | Recommendations | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 1: Security for the Arena | 1 | 17 Jun 2021 | 9 | |
| Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response | 2 | 03 Nov 2022 | 149 | |
| Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 3: Radicalisation and Preventability | 3 | 02 Mar 2023 | 11 |
Recommendations (5)
Statutory powers for witness attendance at inquiries
I also recommend that consideration be given to the creation of statutory powers under section 36 that can be used to prevent a material witness to an inquiry putting themselves beyond the reach of the existing powers to compel a witness's attendance. One such power, which would have assisted in the cases of Ismail Abedi and Ahmed Taghdi, would be a short-term restriction on the use of a witness's passport prior to attending to give evidence when required.
The Cabinet Office reported in February 2026 that the recommendation remained in progress, explaining that the Ministry of Justice would consider it in light of wider reforms to strengthen the public inquiries system following recommendations from the Statutory Inquiries Committee (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). In that February 2026 update, the department added that any legislative changes needed would be "taken forward as part of this broader package" (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). The UK government had previously partially accepted the recommendation in November 2025 (Cabinet Office response, Nov 2025).
Address extradition difficulties for section 35 offences
I recommend that the Home Office give consideration to addressing the difficulties in extradition in relation to an offence under section 35, given that the maximum sentence for such an offence is below the minimum qualifying threshold for extradition.
The Cabinet Office reported in February 2026 that the Ministry of Justice has "no current plans to increase the maximum sentence" for an Inquiries Act offence to bring individuals within scope of extradition, because existing and proposed penalties are proportionate and dual criminality might still prevent extradition (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). It stated in February 2026 that wider reforms to the Inquiries Act are under consideration, in light of which the recommendation will be considered and any necessary legislative changes taken forward (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026).
Amend section 21 for witness interview requirements
I recommend that the Ministry of Justice give consideration to amending section 21 of the 2005 Act to include the express provision for requiring a potential witness to participate in an interview.
In February 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that this recommendation remains in progress, explaining that it is considering wider reforms to the Inquiries Act 2005 and that the Ministry of Justice will consider the proposal in light of those reforms, with any required legislative changes taken forward as part of a broader package (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). The UK Government had previously registered the recommendation as partially accepted in November 2025 (Cabinet Office response, Nov 2025).
Amend section 36 for pre-emptive witness enforcement
I recommend that the Ministry of Justice, possibly in conjunction with the Law Commission, give consideration to amending section 36 of the 2005 Act to make provision for issuing pre-emptive enforcement proceedings for witnesses in relation to whom there are reasonable grounds to believe that they will not co-operate.
In February 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that the recommendation remained in progress, explaining that the Ministry of Justice would consider it alongside wider reforms to the Inquiries Act 2005 and that any resulting legislative changes remained to be taken forward as part of that broader package (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). Earlier, the government had recorded the recommendation as partially accepted in November 2025 (Cabinet Office response, Nov 2025).
Consequences for breaching event healthcare standards
The Department of Health and Social Care together with the Care Quality Commission should consider what the consequences of breaching the appropriate standard should be. That should include consideration of whether the sanction should be criminal in nature.
The Cabinet Office reported in February 2026 that the recommendation was in progress and remained under consideration (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). It stated in February 2026 that consequences, including the need for a regulatory footing and possible sanctions, would be assessed during the implementation and evaluation stage while work to develop the standard was underway (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). The UK Government had previously recorded in November 2025 that it partially accepted the recommendation (Cabinet Office response, Nov 2025).