UK Public Inquiries

Mr Justice Keith

Est. Sep 2004 · Closed Jun 2006

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 …

Lord Hutton

Est. Aug 2003 · Closed Jan 2004

Inquiry into circumstances surrounding the death of Dr David Kelly, a weapons expert who had briefed journalists about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

Potters Bar Rail Accident Investigation

Est. May 2002 · Final report Apr 2005

Investigation into the derailment at Potters Bar on 10 May 2002 caused by a faulty set of points which killed seven people and injured 76.

Foot and Mouth Disease 2001: Lessons to be Learned Inquiry

Dr Iain Anderson CBE

Est. Aug 2001 · Closed Jul 2002

Independent inquiry into the handling of the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease epidemic, the largest livestock disease outbreak in UK history affecting over 2,000 premises. Identified systemic failures in the government's crisis …

Victoria Climbie Inquiry

Lord Laming

Est. Apr 2001 · Final report Jan 2003

Inquiry into the death of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie in February 2000 examining how multiple agencies failed to protect her from abuse.

Marchioness Inquiry

Lord Justice Clarke

Est. Jun 2000 · Final report Mar 2001

Formal investigation into the Marchioness pleasure boat disaster of 20 August 1989 when the vessel sank on the River Thames after being struck by the dredger Bowbelle killing 51 people.

The Shipman Inquiry

Dame Janet Smith

Est. Sep 2001 · Closed Jan 2005

Public inquiry into the murders committed by GP Harold Shipman, who killed at least 250 patients between 1971 and 1998. The inquiry produced six reports examining his crimes, police failings, …

Royal Liverpool Children's Inquiry

Michael Redfern QC

Est. Dec 1999 · Final report Jan 2001

Inquiry into the unauthorised removal retention and disposal of human tissue including children's organs at the Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital between 1981 and 1996.

Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry

Lord Cullen

Est. Oct 1999 · Final report Sep 2001

Inquiry into the Ladbroke Grove rail crash of 5 October 1999 near Paddington in which 31 people were killed and over 400 injured when two trains collided.

Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry

Professor Sir Ian Kennedy

Est. Oct 1998 · Final report Jul 2001

Public inquiry into children's heart surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary between 1984 and 1995 which found that up to 35 children died who might have survived had they been …

Legg Inquiry into the Sandline Affair

Sir Thomas Legg KCB QC

Est. May 1998 · Closed Jul 1998

Independent inquiry conducted by Sir Thomas Legg and Sir Robin Ibbs into the conduct of Foreign Office officials during the Sandline affair, in which British company Sandline International supplied arms …

Southall Rail Accident Inquiry

Professor John Uff QC

Est. Feb 1998 · Closed Sep 2000

Statutory public inquiry into the Southall rail crash of 19 September 1997 in which a Great Western express collided with a freight train at Southall, West London, killing 7 people …

BSE Inquiry

Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers

Est. Jan 1998 · Final report Oct 2000

Inquiry into the emergence and identification of BSE and variant CJD and the government response up to March 1996.

Stephen Lawrence Inquiry

Sir William Macpherson

Est. Jul 1997 · Final report Feb 1999

Inquiry into the investigation of the murder of Stephen Lawrence on 22 April 1993 which found institutional racism within the Metropolitan Police Service.

Cullen Inquiry into Dunblane

Lord Cullen

Est. Mar 1996 · Final report Oct 1996

Public inquiry into the shootings at Dunblane Primary School on 13 March 1996 when Thomas Hamilton killed 16 children and their teacher before killing himself.

North Wales Child Abuse Tribunal

Sir Ronald Waterhouse

Est. Jan 1996 · Final report Feb 2000

Tribunal investigating the physical and sexual abuse of children in care homes in North Wales between 1974 and 1990.

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.

Summerland Fire Commission

Mr Justice Cantley

Est. Sep 1973 · Final report May 1974

Commission of inquiry into the fire at the Summerland leisure complex in Douglas, Isle of Man, on 2 August 1973 which killed 50 people and injured 80.

South Ockendon Hospital Inquiry

J. Hampden Inskip

Est. Jan 1973 · Closed May 1974

Committee of inquiry into ill-treatment and neglect of patients at South Ockendon Hospital, Essex, a long-stay hospital for mentally handicapped patients. Prompted by anonymous disclosure of ward reports recording injuries …

Lord Widgery

Est. Feb 1972 · Final report Apr 1972

Tribunal investigating the events of Bloody Sunday on 30 January 1972 when British soldiers shot 26 unarmed civilians during a protest march in Derry, killing 14.

Whittingham Hospital Inquiry

Sir Robert Payne

Est. Jan 1971 · Closed Feb 1972

Committee of inquiry into allegations of ill-treatment of patients, fraud and maladministration at Whittingham psychiatric hospital near Preston, Lancashire. Found systematic patient mistreatment and recommended the dismissal of a consultant …

Farleigh Hospital Inquiry

Est. Jan 1970 · Closed Jun 1971

Committee of inquiry into allegations of ill-treatment and neglect of patients at Farleigh Hospital, Long Ashton, Somerset, a long-stay hospital for mentally handicapped patients. One of a series of post-Ely …

Hugh Griffiths QC

Est. May 1968 · Final report Nov 1968

Inquiry into the partial collapse of Ronan Point tower block in Canning Town on 16 May 1968 following a gas explosion which killed four people.

Geoffrey Howe QC

Est. Jul 1967 · Final report Mar 1969

Committee of inquiry into allegations of ill-treatment of patients and other irregularities at Ely Hospital, Cardiff, a long-stay psychiatric hospital.

Aberfan Disaster Tribunal

Lord Justice Edmund-Davies

Est. Oct 1966 · Final report Aug 1967

Tribunal into the Aberfan disaster of 21 October 1966 in which a colliery spoil tip collapsed onto Pantglas Junior School and houses, killing 144 people including 116 children.

Lord Denning

Est. Jun 1963 · Final report Sep 1963

Inquiry by Lord Denning into the Profumo affair, examining whether the relationship between Secretary of State for War John Profumo and Christine Keeler posed a risk to national security.

Viscount Radcliffe

Est. Nov 1962 · Final report Apr 1963

Tribunal investigating the espionage case of John Vassall, an Admiralty civil servant who spied for the Soviet Union, and whether ministers or officials bore responsibility for security failures.

1957 Bank Rate Tribunal

Lord Justice Parker

Est. Nov 1957 · Closed Jan 1958

Statutory tribunal into allegations that advance information about the Bank Rate rise of 7 September 1957 was improperly disclosed to City financiers. Heard evidence through late 1957 and reported in …

Sir Andrew Clark QC

Est. Jun 1953 · Closed Jun 1954

Inquiry into civil service maladministration over the compulsory acquisition of 725 acres of farmland at Crichel Down, Dorset, originally taken for RAF bombing practice. Found a catalogue of dishonest and …

Sir George Lynskey

Est. Oct 1948 · Final report Jan 1949

Tribunal investigating corruption allegations involving government ministers and the Board of Trade, centred on junior trade minister John Belcher and businessman Sidney Stanley.