What Are Public Inquiries and How Do They Work? (UK Law)

Send us a topic important to you.Public Inquiries are investigations set up by government ministers to respond to events of major public concern or to consider controversial public policy issues. We differentiate between statutory inquiries (governed by the Inquiries Act 2005, with powers to compel evidence) and non-statutory inquiries (which are more flexible but have fewer legal powers). The key objectives of holding an inquiry often include establishing the facts, learning from events, and providing public reassurance and accountability. We also examine the establishment process, the role of core participants, and the production of a final report with recommendations. (98 words)Key TakeawaysPublic inquiries are formal investigations established by government ministers to address matters of public concern, such as large-scale loss of life or serious failures in regulation.Statutory inquiries (under the Inquiries Act 2005) have the power to compel witnesses to give evidence and produce documents, but they must follow stricter rules.Non-statutory inquiries lack the power to compel evidence but offer greater flexibility, sometimes allowing victims and bereaved families a more direct role in the proceedings.A public inquiry is not a legal court; it cannot find someone guilty of civil or criminal liability, but the evidence it uncovers can impact future legal proceedings.Ministers must consult widely and consider the benefits versus the costs before deciding to establish an inquiry.A public inquiry may produce interim reports to issue urgent recommendations that cannot wait for the final publication.DefinitionsPublic Inquiry: An investigation initiated by a government minister to respond to events causing major public concern or to review controversial public policy issues.Statutory Inquiry: An investigation governed by the Inquiries Act 2005, granting the chair specific powers, such as compelling witnesses to attend hearings or provide documents.Source: Public inquiriesResearch BriefingPublished Tuesday, 04 November, 2025Follow and subscribe to 'The Bench Report' on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube for new episodes daily: thebenchreport.co.ukSubscribe to our Substack Shape our next episode! Get in touch with an issue important to you - Producer Tom will grab another coffee and start the research!Email us: [email protected] us on YouTube,  X, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok! @benchreportUKSupport us for bonus and extended episodes + more.No outside chatter: source material only taken from Hansard and the Parliament UK website.  Contains Parliamentary information repurposed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0....