UK Public Inquiries

Sir Richard Scott

Est. Nov 1992 · Final report Feb 1996

Inquiry into exports of defence equipment and dual-use goods to Iraq and related prosecutions including the Matrix Churchill case.

Inquiry into the Supervision of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International

Lord Justice Thomas Bingham

Est. Jul 1991 · Closed Oct 1992

Non-statutory inquiry into the Bank of England's supervision of Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) following the bank's collapse in July 1991 amid revelations of massive fraud. Concluded that …

Orkney Child Abuse Inquiry

Lord Clyde

Est. Jun 1991 · Final report Oct 1992

Inquiry into the removal of nine children from their homes in South Ronaldsay in February 1991 on grounds of alleged ritual child abuse.

Committee of Inquiry into Complaints About Ashworth Hospital

Louis Blom-Cooper QC

Est. Apr 1991 · Closed Aug 1992

Committee of inquiry into allegations of patient abuse and maltreatment at Ashworth Special Hospital, a high-security psychiatric facility in Merseyside, triggered by a Channel 4 television documentary. Found extensive evidence …

Inquiry into Prison Disturbances April 1990

Lord Justice Harry Woolf

Est. May 1990 · Closed Feb 1991

Public inquiry into the April 1990 disturbances at HMP Strangeways and 20 other prisons across England and Wales. The Strangeways riot lasted 25 days and was the longest prison riot …

Lord Justice Taylor

Est. May 1989 · Final report Jan 1990

Inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster of 15 April 1989 when 97 Liverpool FC supporters were fatally crushed at Sheffield Wednesday's ground during an FA Cup semi-final.

Clapham Junction Inquiry

Anthony Hidden QC

Est. Dec 1988 · Final report Sep 1989

Investigation into the Clapham Junction railway accident of 12 December 1988 in which three trains collided killing 35 people and injuring over 400.

Lord Cullen

Est. Nov 1988 · Final report Nov 1990

Public inquiry into the Piper Alpha oil platform disaster of 6 July 1988 in the North Sea which killed 167 workers.

Desmond Fennell QC

Est. Feb 1988 · Final report Nov 1988

Investigation into the King's Cross Underground fire of 18 November 1987 which killed 31 people. Found the fire was caused by a lighted match igniting accumulated grease beneath a wooden …

Cleveland Child Abuse Inquiry

Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss

Est. Jul 1987 · Final report Jul 1988

Inquiry into the handling of suspected child abuse cases in Cleveland in 1987 where 121 children were removed from their families based on controversial diagnoses by two paediatricians.

Herald of Free Enterprise Inquiry

Mr Justice Sheen

Est. Apr 1987 · Final report Jul 1987

Formal investigation into the capsizing of the Herald of Free Enterprise ro-ro ferry off Zeebrugge on 6 March 1987 which killed 193 people.

Mr Justice Popplewell

Est. May 1985 · Final report Jan 1986

Inquiry into crowd safety and control at sports grounds following the Bradford City stadium fire of 11 May 1985 which killed 56 people.

Falkland Islands Review Committee

Lord Franks

Est. Jul 1982 · Final report Jan 1983

Committee of Privy Counsellors reviewing the discharge of government responsibilities in the period leading up to the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands on 2 April 1982.

Lord Scarman

Est. Apr 1981 · Final report Nov 1981

Inquiry into the Brixton disorders of 10-12 April 1981 examining the causes of the riots and the relationship between the Metropolitan Police and the local community.

Mr Justice Parker

Est. Jun 1977 · Final report Jan 1978

Public inquiry into the application by British Nuclear Fuels Limited to build a thermal oxide reprocessing plant (THORP) at Windscale in Cumbria.

Normansfield Hospital Inquiry

Michael Sherrard QC

Est. May 1976 · Closed Nov 1978

Inquiry into patient care and staff conditions at Normansfield Hospital, Teddington, a long-stay hospital for mentally handicapped patients. Established following a nursing strike demanding suspension of consultant psychiatrist Dr Terence …

Flixborough Disaster Inquiry

Roger Parker QC

Est. Sep 1974 · Final report Apr 1975

Court of inquiry into the explosion at the Nypro chemical plant near Flixborough on 1 June 1974 which killed 28 workers and seriously injured 36.

Lord Justice Scarman

Est. Jun 1974 · Final report Feb 1975

Inquiry into the disorders in Red Lion Square on 15 June 1974 arising from opposing demonstrations, in which student Kevin Gately died.