Public Inquiry
Zahid Mubarek Inquiry
Status: Completed
Chair: Mr Justice Keith
Established: Sep 2004
Report: Jun 2006
Commissioned by: Home Office
Public inquiry into the murder of 19-year-old Zahid Mubarek at Feltham Young Offender Institution on 21 March 2000 by his racist cellmate Robert Stewart. Justice Keith found the death entirely preventable and identified multiple systemic failures in prisoner risk assessment, …
Historical inquiry (pre-Inquiries Act 2005). Listed for reference — recommendation progress is not actively tracked.
Legacy & impact
The Zahid Mubarek Inquiry examined the circumstances surrounding the murder of 19-year-old Zahid Mubarek by his cellmate Robert Stewart at Feltham Young Offender Institution on 21 March 2000. Stewart, who had documented violent and racist tendencies, attacked Mubarek with a table leg hours before Mubarek's scheduled release. The inquiry, chaired by Mr Justice Keith, made 88 recommendations addressing cell-sharing procedures, management of prisoners with racist attitudes, and information-sharing between criminal justice agencies.
The inquiry's findings led to documented changes in prison procedures. The Offender Management Act 2007 incorporated provisions strengthening cell-sharing risk assessment duties. The National Offender Management Service introduced enhanced procedures for identifying and managing prisoners displaying racist behaviour. A revised Cell-Sharing Risk Assessment tool was rolled out across the prison estate, requiring senior officer involvement in cell-sharing decisions.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons' thematic review in January 2009 found that cell-sharing risk assessment procedures had been improved following the inquiry. However, the same review identified that racist bullying remained a significant problem and that information-sharing between establishments continued to be inconsistent. The inquiry's primary objective - the elimination of enforced cell-sharing - has not been achieved.
The inquiry contributed to broader examination of racism within the criminal justice system, alongside the Commission for Racial Equality's 2003 formal investigation into racism in the Prison Service. Its recommendations continue to influence prisoner management protocols and risk assessment procedures within the UK prison system.
The inquiry's findings led to documented changes in prison procedures. The Offender Management Act 2007 incorporated provisions strengthening cell-sharing risk assessment duties. The National Offender Management Service introduced enhanced procedures for identifying and managing prisoners displaying racist behaviour. A revised Cell-Sharing Risk Assessment tool was rolled out across the prison estate, requiring senior officer involvement in cell-sharing decisions.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons' thematic review in January 2009 found that cell-sharing risk assessment procedures had been improved following the inquiry. However, the same review identified that racist bullying remained a significant problem and that information-sharing between establishments continued to be inconsistent. The inquiry's primary objective - the elimination of enforced cell-sharing - has not been achieved.
The inquiry contributed to broader examination of racism within the criminal justice system, alongside the Commission for Racial Equality's 2003 formal investigation into racism in the Prison Service. Its recommendations continue to influence prisoner management protocols and risk assessment procedures within the UK prison system.
Key legislation
Offender Management Act 2007 (Cell-Sharing Risk Assessment provisions)
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Strengthened the Prison Service's duty to assess and manage risks in cell-sharing, informed by the Zahid Mubarek Inquiry's findings.
Implementation reviewed by
HM Inspectorate of Prisons (thematic review)
(Jan 2009)
Thematic review of race equality in prisons. Found that cell-sharing risk assessment procedures had been improved following the inquiry, but that racist bullying remained a significant problem and information-sharing between establishments was inconsistent.
Influence & connections
Led directly to
Prison safety and racial equality
The inquiry led to reformed cell-sharing risk assessment procedures and contributed to the broader anti-racism agenda within the criminal justice system, alongside the CRE's formal investigation into Prison Service racism (2003).
Key facts
Duration: 1 year, 10 months