Public inquiry

A formal investigation into a matter of public concern, typically established by government and empowered to gather evidence and publish findings.

Terms of reference: A document defining an investigation’s scope, questions, and limits. They set which matters an inquiry may investigate and report on.
Grenfell Tower Inquiry: A United Kingdom public inquiry into the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire and its causes and aftermath. It examined the fire alongside decisions and failures across institutions.
Public inquiry (United States): A government investigation in the United States that gathers evidence and reports on a matter of public concern. The US lacks one uniform inquiry model; powers and procedures depend on the body established.
Government accountability: The obligation of public officials and institutions to explain and answer for their decisions and conduct. Public findings can expose government failures and demand explanations from responsible institutions.
Witness examination: The questioning of witnesses to test or clarify their evidence. Counsel use questioning to build and challenge the inquiry’s factual record.
Hillsborough disaster: A 1989 stadium crush in Sheffield that killed 97 Liverpool supporters. The disaster prompted inquiries into deaths, policing, and the original investigation.
Criminal trial: A court proceeding that determines whether a defendant is guilty of a criminal offense. Unlike a trial, an inquiry generally establishes facts rather than determining criminal liability.
Institutional failure: The inability of an organization to meet its responsibilities or prevent foreseeable harm. Inquiries often trace harm to interacting failures rather than a single individual.
Disclosure (law): The provision of relevant documents or information to parties in legal proceedings or investigations. Disclosure gives inquiry participants access to evidence gathered by investigators.
Bloody Sunday Inquiry: A British inquiry into the 1972 killings of civilians by soldiers in Londonderry. It illustrates an inquiry revisiting disputed state conduct decades after an event.

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