UK Public Inquiries Multiply, Drawing Criticism for Cost and Delays

The number of public inquiries in the United Kingdom has surged in recent decades, with 63 launched since 2005, a significant increase compared to the preceding 20 years. This trend has drawn criticism regarding their substantial costs, protracted timelines, and the lucrative opportunities they present for legal professionals and associated services.

One such inquiry, investigating alleged war crimes by the SAS in Helmand province between 2010 and 2013, exemplifies the scale and expense. These proceedings involve a large contingent of lawyers, with barristers often earning up to £250 per hour. Beyond legal fees, other beneficiaries include document-management firms, specialist assessors, and those involved in administrative and logistical support, such as catering and property rentals.

The Afghanistan inquiry, for instance, has already consumed £58 million over three and a half years, with no clear end date in sight. The Covid inquiry, launched in May 2021 and presided over by Lady Hallett, has a budget exceeding £200 million and is not expected to conclude until mid-next year.

Ministers frequently initiate inquiries following major scandals or tragedies, a move that can temporarily deflect media scrutiny with the assurance that matters are being left to the inquiry process. However, this often leads to extended delays, with opportunities for lessons to be learned diminishing as time passes and relevant officials move to new roles or leave public service entirely. Blame can become obscured, and accountability harder to establish.

Historically, inquiries were less frequent and more streamlined. The 1983 Franks inquiry into the Falklands War, for example, took six months and incurred negligible costs. In contrast, modern inquiries are characterized by loose terms of reference, which chairmen can expand, and the extensive submission of materials by "core participants," further contributing to systemic delays.

Concerns have also been raised about the engagement of civil servants, who may submit vast quantities of documents, potentially obscuring errors. The process can be slow, with proceedings often bogged down in legalistic procedures and the meticulous examination of written evidence. The public's engagement with these inquiries is reportedly minimal, with few citizens attending hearings.

Despite the mounting costs and delays, some politicians continue to commission new inquiries. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood recently announced an inquiry into the Manchester synagogue attack, adding to a lengthy list of ongoing investigations. These include inquiries into small boat crossings, stabbings in Southport, the Northern Irish Truth Recovery Independent Panel, the Fuller inquiry into necrophilic killer David Fuller, and the investigation into the murder of Sarah Everard by a Metropolitan Police officer.

The efficacy and value of these extensive public inquiries, measured not only in financial terms but also in their contribution to societal healing and the potential for meaningful change, remain subjects of ongoing debate.