Forensic, policy, and truth-telling inquiries and UK public inquiry reform

Ireton, E ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4106-1697, 2025. Forensic, policy, and truth-telling inquiries and UK public inquiry reform. Nottingham: Nottingham Trent University.

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Abstract

Explicitly identifying public inquiries as forensic, policy, or truth-telling will enhance focus, improve effectiveness, help control cost and duration, and strengthen public and participant confidence in the UK public inquiry process.

Recommendations

1. When convening a public inquiry, ministers should identify its primary purpose as forensic, policy, or truth-telling. The inquiry’s terms of reference, budgets, deadlines, and public messaging must all align accordingly.

2. The Inquiry chair’s decisions when determining an inquiry’s procedure and conduct must reflect its primary purpose to maintain focus, ensure efficiency, manage expectations, and prevent ‘mission creep’.

3. Reform of the inquiry process should reinforce this categorisation and promote the sharing of innovation and best practice.

Item Type:	Research report for external body
Creators:	Ireton, E.
Publisher:	Nottingham Trent University
Place of Publication:	Nottingham
Date:	March 2025
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.17631/rd-2025-0005-drep DOI 2396730 Other
Rights:	© Nottingham Trent University 2025.
Divisions:	Schools > Nottingham Law School
Record created by:	Melissa Cornwell
Date Added:	06 Mar 2025 16:14
Last Modified:	07 Mar 2025 17:12
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/53198

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