Sheku Bayoh Inquiry
Ongoing · Chair: Lord Colbeck · Established November 2020 · Commissioned by Scottish Government
Inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh following contact with Police Scotland officers in Kirkcaldy on 3 May 2015.
More about this inquiry
Inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh following contact with Police Scotland officers in Kirkcaldy on 3 May 2015. Lord Bracadale (original chair) resigned 21 October 2025 after disclosure of five private meetings with the Bayoh family; the entire legal team also resigned. Lord Colbeck appointed 14 January 2026 as new chair; takes up post 2 March 2026. 122 days of oral evidence already taken. Restart expected March 2026.
Inquiry website ↗ Terms of reference ↗
Where it stands
Public hearings have been held on 82 days, most recently on 12 June 2025.
No report has been published yet.
Recent milestones
- Closing submissions deadline extended23 September 2026
- Written closing submissions invited31 March 2026
- New chair takes office2 March 2026
Costs
£27,806,840
Total reported cost to June 2026 Costs in detailReports and timeline
Reports
No reports listed.
Timeline
Chair Appointed
Lord Bracadale appointed as Chair of the Inquiry.
Inquiry Announced
Terms of reference announced
Inquiry Begins
Inquiry formally began examining events surrounding Mr Bayoh's death.
First preliminary hearing
Evidential Hearings Begin
Public evidence hearings commenced in Edinburgh.
Last day of oral evidence (Day 122)
Chair resigns
Lord Bracadale resigned as Chair, stating the best interests of the inquiry would be served by a new chair; counsel to the inquiry also departed.
Show all 11 milestones
New chair takes office
Lord Colbeck took up appointment as Chair, announced by Scottish Ministers on 14 January 2026.
Written closing submissions invited
The Chair invited written closing submissions from core participants, with no oral closing hearing. The initial completion deadline of 9 October 2026 was subsequently extended.
Closing submissions deadline extended
Following a request on compassionate grounds, the Inquiry extended the deadline for completion of written closing submissions to 19 November 2026.
Costs
| Period | Total | Inquiry legal | CP legal | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2026 (cum.) | £27,806,840 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 30 Nov 2020 to 30 Jun 2026. |
| Jun 2026 | £409,105 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2026 to 30 Jun 2026. |
| Mar 2026 | £549,119 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jan 2026 to 31 Mar 2026. |
| Dec 2025 | £599,536 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Oct 2025 to 31 Dec 2025. |
| Sep 2025 | £621,856 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jul 2025 to 30 Sep 2025. |
| Jun 2025 | £827,481 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2025 to 30 Jun 2025. |
| Mar 2025 | £1,034,276 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jan 2025 to 31 Mar 2025. |
| Dec 2024 | £1,669,663 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Oct 2024 to 31 Dec 2024. |
| Sep 2024 | £1,968,285 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jul 2024 to 30 Sep 2024. |
| Jun 2024 | £1,722,751 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2024 to 30 Jun 2024. |
| Mar 2024 | £2,115,272 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jan 2024 to 31 Mar 2024. |
| Dec 2023 | £1,366,681 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Oct 2023 to 31 Dec 2023. |
| Sep 2023 | £1,185,508 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jul 2023 to 30 Sep 2023. |
| Jun 2023 | £1,425,093 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2023 to 30 Jun 2023. |
| Mar 2023 | £1,862,587 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jan 2023 to 31 Mar 2023. |
| Dec 2022 | £1,480,895 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Oct 2022 to 31 Dec 2022. |
| Sep 2022 | £1,487,323 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jul 2022 to 30 Sep 2022. |
| Jun 2022 | £1,567,066 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2022 to 30 Jun 2022. |
| Mar 2022 | £1,536,091 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jan 2022 to 31 Mar 2022. |
| Dec 2021 | £1,124,570 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Oct 2021 to 31 Dec 2021. |
| Sep 2021 | £1,794,210 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jul 2021 to 30 Sep 2021. |
| Jun 2021 | £651,973 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Apr 2021 to 30 Jun 2021. |
| Mar 2021 | £713,711 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 1 Jan 2021 to 31 Mar 2021. |
| Dec 2020 | £93,788 | Not reported | Not reported | Inquiry costs Source and qualificationsAccounting period: 30 Nov 2020 to 31 Dec 2020. |
Inquiry costs
Source and qualifications
Accounting period: 30 Nov 2020 to 30 Jun 2026.