Protocol on the Questioning of Witnesses in Oral Hearings
Protocol on the Questioning of Witnesses in Oral Hearings under Rule 10 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 Introduction This Protocol sets out the approach to questioning witnesses at the Inquiry’s hearings in April 2025. The Inquiry’s aim is to ensure a fair, effective, and transparent questioning process in line with Rule 10 […]
Protocol for April 2025 Hearing
Introduction The Chair will hold an evidential hearing during April and May 2025 for a period of three weeks. This will be referred to by the Inquiry as the April Hearing. The purpose of the April Hearing is to introduce important contextual evidence relating to the provision of mental health inpatient care […]
Protocol on the Role and Appointment of Assessors
The purpose of this Protocol is to explain the role and procedure for the appointment of Assessors by the Chair pursuant to section 11 of the Inquiries Act 2005 (“the Act”). Role of Assessors Section 11(2)(b) of the Act gives the Chair the power to appoint Assessors to assist the Inquiry. Before such an appointment […]
Code of conduct
Annex to Protocol on September 2024 Opening Hearings: Code of Conduct The opening hearings will involve deeply personal accounts of the utmost sensitivity, often describing tragic circumstances. The Chair recognises the resilience and courage of those witnesses who are willing to share their accounts and asks everyone attending hearings to do the same. The Chair […]
Protocol for September Opening Hearings
Introduction The Chair will invite opening statements and hold evidential hearings during September 2024 for a period of up to three weeks. Baroness Lampard intends to ensure that the experiences of family members and friends of those who have died, and patients and former patients, are at the centre of the Inquiry’s work from the […]
Protocol on Witness Statements
The purpose of this Protocol is: to ensure that all witnesses understand and can follow how the Inquiry will obtain written statements during its investigations; to set out what is expected of witnesses responding to such requests; and to explain how the Inquiry can assist with the preparation of written statements. A witness is any […]
Protocol on Whistleblowing
Introduction To assist the Inquiry in meeting its Terms of Reference, it is important that it is provided with all relevant information. The Inquiry recognises however that there may be instances where individuals wish to come forward with relevant information but are concerned about breaching confidentiality and/or reprisals to themselves or others, if it is […]
Protocol on Documents
This Protocol relates to: the holding of potentially relevant documents; the provision of such documents to the Inquiry; and their receipt and handling by the Inquiry. It sets out how the Inquiry will obtain documents which may be relevant to the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference and how the Inquiry will ensure that they are promptly […]
Protocol on Applications for Core Participant Legal Funding
Core Participant Applications: Funding for Legal Representation Introduction Section 17 (1) of the Inquiries Act 2005 provides that the procedure and conduct of the Inquiry are to be such as the Chair of the Inquiry may direct, subject to the provisions of the Act and the Inquiry Rules 2006. Funding for applications for Core Participant […]
Protocol on Core Participants
A Core Participant is a person, organisation or entity granted special status during an inquiry. They are afforded specific rights and responsibilities during the investigative process, set out in brief below. Not all witnesses will be designated Core Participants, and being a Core Participant does not mean that a person’s evidence is any more important […]
