Inquiries Zahid Mubarek Inquiry ReportedHistoric

Zahid Mubarek Inquiry

Public inquiry into the murder of 19-year-old Zahid Mubarek at Feltham Young Offender Institution on 21 March 2000 by his racist cellmate Robert Stewart.

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Public inquiry into the murder of 19-year-old Zahid Mubarek at Feltham Young Offender Institution on 21 March 2000 by his racist cellmate Robert Stewart. Justice Keith found the death entirely preventable and identified multiple systemic failures in prisoner risk assessment, allocation and monitoring. Made 88 recommendations to improve prison safety, risk assessment procedures and staff training.

Where it stands

Report of the Zahid Mubarek inquiry (Volumes I and II) was published on 29 June 2006.

ChairMr Justice KeithJudge / Judiciary
Commissioned byHome Office
Established1 Sep 2004
Final report29 Jun 2006
Duration1 year, 10 months
Inquiry report
Historical inquiry (pre-Inquiries Act 2005). Listed for reference; recommendation progress is not actively tracked.

Reports & recommendations

All 88 recommendations →
88 recommendations
This is a historical inquiry. Per-recommendation tracking is not available. See the Legacy & Impact section above.
Checked against sources: 7 Mar 2026

Latest evidence

All 1 document →
Other · 1
Report of the Zahid Mubarek Inquiry, Volume 2 (includes Terms of Reference and Procedures…
Other

Legacy & Impact

The Zahid Mubarek Inquiry examined the circumstances surrounding the murder of 19-year-old Zahid Mubarek by his cellmate Robert Stewart at Feltham Young Offender Institution on 21 March 2000. Stewart, who had documented violent and racist tendencies, attacked Mubarek with a table leg hours before Mubarek's scheduled release. The inquiry, chaired by Mr Justice Keith, made 88 recommendations addressing cell-sharing procedures, management of prisoners with racist attitudes, and information-sharing between criminal justice agencies.

The inquiry's findings led to documented changes in prison procedures. The Offender Management Act 2007 incorporated provisions strengthening cell-sharing risk assessment duties. The National Offender Management Service introduced enhanced procedures for identifying and managing prisoners displaying racist behaviour. A revised Cell-Sharing Risk Assessment tool was rolled out across the prison estate, requiring senior officer involvement in cell-sharing decisions.

HM Inspectorate of Prisons' thematic review in January 2009 found that cell-sharing risk assessment procedures had been improved following the inquiry. However, the same review identified that racist bullying remained a significant problem and that information-sharing between establishments continued to be inconsistent. The inquiry's primary objective - the elimination of enforced cell-sharing - has not been achieved.

The inquiry contributed to broader examination of racism within the criminal justice system, alongside the Commission for Racial Equality's 2003 formal investigation into racism in the Prison Service. Its recommendations continue to influence prisoner management protocols and risk assessment procedures within the UK prison system.
Lasting Reforms
• Cell-Sharing Risk Assessment (CSRA) tool introduced across the prison estate, with procedures strengthened through provisions in the Offender Management Act 2007
• Enhanced procedures for identifying and managing prisoners with racist attitudes established by the National Offender Management Service
• Revised information-sharing protocols between criminal justice agencies regarding prisoner risk factors
• Formal requirement for senior officer involvement in cell-sharing decisions
• Mandatory recording systems for racist incidents in prisons
Unfinished Business
• Elimination of enforced cell-sharing remains unachieved - the inquiry's primary objective (recommendation ZAHI-1)
• HM Inspectorate of Prisons (2009) found information-sharing between establishments remained inconsistent despite new protocols
• HM Inspectorate of Prisons (2009) reported racist bullying continued as a significant problem in prisons
Summary written by the tracker with AI assistance, 26 March 2026. Not part of the inquiry record; indicative, not authoritative.

Key Legislation

Offender Management Act 2007 (Cell-Sharing Risk Assessment provisions)
Strengthened the Prison Service's duty to assess and manage risks in cell-sharing, informed by the Zahid Mubarek Inquiry's findings.

Implementation Reviewed By

HM Inspectorate of Prisons (thematic review) (Jan 2009)
Thematic review of race equality in prisons. Found that cell-sharing risk assessment procedures had been improved following the inquiry, but that racist bullying remained a significant problem and information-sharing between establishments was inconsistent.

Influence & Connections

Led directly to Prison safety and racial equality
The inquiry led to reformed cell-sharing risk assessment procedures and contributed to the broader anti-racism agenda within the criminal justice system, alongside the CRE's formal investigation into Prison Service racism (2003).