Public inquiries are taking centre stage in UK politics like never before. With three more announced in 2025, the total number of active inquiries has reached a record 21 - highlighting a growing public demand for transparency, accountability, and systemic reform. Yet alongside this surge, serious concerns have been raised about how public inquiries are conducted and whether they truly deliver justice or change, fuelling growing political debate around reform.
This article offers an overview of public inquiries, outlining what they are, the types that exist, the circumstances under which they are initiated, and their overarching purpose. It also examines notable ongoing cases and considers the shifting legal and political context in which inquiries operate, and the potential reforms on the horizon for 2025 and beyond.
Public inquiries are major investigations launched by a government minister in response to events that raise serious public concern, for example, major disasters, miscarriages of justice, or large-scale scandals.
Their purpose are threefold:
In doing so, public inquiries often identify accountability and make findings and recommendations, published in a final report. One recently concluded inquiry that has prompted substantial legal and political reform is the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. This investigation examined the circumstances and systemic failures that led to the deaths of 72 residents in the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire. The findings have driven major reforms in building and fire safety, with the aim of preventing similar tragedies in the future. Notable outcomes include the creation of a new building safety regulator, stricter oversight of construction materials, and enhancements to fire safety legislation and emergency response protocol.
It should be noted that public inquiries may be statutory or non-statutory. Statutory inquiries, governed by the Inquiries Act 2005 and Inquiry Rules 2006, grant an inquiry chair legal powers to compel evidence and witness testimony. Non-compliance can lead to criminal charges. These inquiries must also ensure public access, which may include live-streamed hearings and online publication of documents.
Non-statutory inquiries are more flexible, not bound by legislation or formal rules. They rely on voluntary participation, and witnesses cannot be compelled to give evidence. However, they can be converted into statutory inquires if greater powers are required.
For more information about public inquiries and the associated process, take a look at our detailed guide here.
The UK is experiencing an unprecedented wave of public inquiries. According to the Institute for Government, no more than five public inquiries were ever running simultaneously before June 1997 but there are now currently 21 inquiries ongoing or announced – the highest ever on record.
Societal shifts have played a major role in the rising frequency of inquiries - with greater accessibility to social media and the availability of 24/7 news coverage, the public’s awareness of major public concerns has heightened, causing demand for accountability and transparency. Meanwhile, repeated institutional failures - from policing to healthcare - have eroded trust and fuelled calls for independent scrutiny. As a result, public inquiries have become a key mechanism for restoring confidence and are likely to remain a growing feature of UK governance.
In January 2024, the House of Lords Statutory Inquiries Committee launched a review of the Inquiries Act 2005. Its report, Public Inquiries: Enhancing Public Trust (September 2024), praised inquiries for uncovering truths and offering closure, but criticised the system for failing to ensure accepted recommendations were properly implemented. It proposed reforms including a joint parliamentary committee to monitor implementation, clearer guidance on inquiry formats, and better resourcing of the Cabinet Office’s inquiries unit.
In its February 2025 response, the government acknowledged growing concerns over the cost, length, and effectiveness of inquiries - highlighting that ongoing inquiries cost over £130 million in 2023/24 alone and often take nearly five years to conclude. It agreed that the Inquiries Act and wider governance framework required improvement, particularly around transparency and follow-through. The government accepted several proposals, including new guidance on inquiry formats, support for non-statutory inquiries as a more flexible and cost-effective model, and strengthening the Cabinet Office’s inquiries unit to share best practices. However, it declined to commit to a new parliamentary oversight committee, stating this would be for parliament to decide.
Separately, growing concerns - particularly from those directly affected by major events - have highlighted a persistent lack of integrity shown by public bodies during inquiries. In response, the proposed Hillsborough Law aims to introduce a statutory duty of candour, legally requiring public servants and authorities to act with honesty and transparency during investigations, with potential criminal penalties for non-compliance. While the exact timeline for implantation remains uncertain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has recently reaffirmed his commitment, stating: 'We will bring this forward—I just want to take the time to get it right.'
The sharp rise in public inquiries in recent years reflects their growing role as one of the UK’s most powerful mechanisms for uncovering truth, delivering justice, and driving systemic reform. Yet their future hinges not on how many are launched, but on how effectively they are conducted - and whether their findings actually lead to meaningful change.
As inquiries become more frequent and wide-ranging, so too do the challenges: escalating costs, prolonged timelines, defensive institutional behaviour, and failures to act on recommendations. These issues risk undermining the credibility of the entire process and their purpose, which if left unaddressed, could further erode public trust.
However, the House of Lords’ recent reform proposals present a timely opportunity to reset the public inquiry system - introducing stronger oversight, clearer timelines, and a renewed emphasis on accountability. The proposed Hillsborough Law, with its statutory duty of candour, would further strengthen the integrity of investigations by legally requiring honesty and full cooperation from public servants and authorities.
While the full impact of these reforms remains to be seen, one thing is certain: as public awareness of institutional failures and major public concerns grow, so too will the demand for transparency - and with it, the continued rise of public inquiries. Public bodies, in particular, must be ready to engage with this evolving landscape -demonstrating transparency, cooperation, and a genuine commitment to learning from scrutiny.
At Ashfords we have a team of dedicated regulatory solicitors with a wealth of experiencing in supporting core participants and witnesses in public inquiries. If you require legal advice or wish to be supported through an inquiry process, please contact Ian Manners and Rhian Gravell in our regulatory team below.
