Afghan War Crimes Inquiry Costs UK Taxpayers £58 Million
Independent inquiry into alleged SAS murders of civilians has run over schedule and budget, with no findings yet published.
An independent inquiry into allegations that British Special Forces murdered unarmed Afghan civilians has cost UK taxpayers £58 million, according to figures from the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan (IIRTA) was established in 2023 to investigate alleged war crimes committed by soldiers serving with the Special Air Service between 2010 and 2013 during operations targeting the Taliban.
Inquiry Delays and Expanding Scope
The inquiry, which was initially expected to report at least on an interim basis within 12 to 18 months of its launch, has now been ongoing for over three and a half years without publishing any findings. In a statement, the inquiry attributed the delays to its work being "greater and more complex than it originally envisaged," and also cited delays by the MoD in disclosing information as a factor affecting the timetable.
The allegations under investigation include claims that the SAS murdered detainees and unarmed civilians, including children, during night raids. These claims first came to light following reports by BBC Panorama in 2022, which led to the establishment of the inquiry by former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
Costs and Ministry of Defence Figures
The inquiry's own reported expenditure, covering the chair's salary, secretariat, lawyers, and expert witnesses, amounted to £14.68 million up to the end of the 2024-25 financial year. However, the Ministry of Defence provided a significantly higher figure of £58 million when responding to a Freedom of Information request from the BBC, covering costs to both the MoD and the inquiry team up to March 2026. The MoD also stated that 74 of its staff are currently dedicating more than 50% of their working time to the inquiry.
Impact on Veterans and Defence Effectiveness
The SAS Regimental Association (SASRA), representing over 5,000 SAS veterans and serving personnel, expressed its commitment to supporting the inquiry and achieving a "timely solution." However, the association also warned that the prolonged nature of the process is causing "significant and widening harm" to the regiment's reputation, the well-being and morale of its members, and potentially to the operational effectiveness of a key national defence asset. SASRA noted the cumulative burden of decades of legal scrutiny stemming from operations in Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria on individuals, families, and the association.
Public inquiries are often lengthy and costly. For comparison, the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, which investigated the killing of 13 civil rights protesters in Northern Ireland by British soldiers, took 12 years to complete and cost over £190 million. The inquiry into the alleged SAS war crimes stated that the chair remains committed to the welfare and safety of UK Special Forces personnel and witnesses, and that a timely conclusion is in everyone's interest.