Parliamentary activity

Answering body: Home Office

The Inquiry went live on 26 March 2026.The published costs for the Inquiry to 31 March 2026 are £248,384.38.In future, the Inquiry will update its costs on their website periodically: https://www.orgreave.public-inquiry.uk/policies-protocols/

Answering body: Home Office

On 26 March 2026, the Home Secretary announced the terms of reference and start date for the Orgreave Inquiry. The terms of reference include the aim to publish a final report within 24 months of the start date 26th March 2026. Decisions about the timetable, process and procedures will be made by the Inquiry’s independent Chair, the Right Revd Dr Bishop Pete Wilcox.

Ministers will discuss budgets with the Chair and the timetable for the Inquiry in more detail now that the terms of reference have been published, as this enables more reliable estimates of the Inquiry’s costs to be made.

Answering body: Home Office

Today I am announcing the formal launch of the Orgreave Inquiry, a statutory public inquiry established under the Inquiries Act 2005, to investigate the events at the Orgreave Coking Plant on 18 June 1984.

I pay tribute to the campaigners, particularly the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign and the National Union of Mineworkers, whose tireless advocacy has brought us to this moment. Their voices will be central to the Inquiry’s work.

This inquiry delivers on the Government’s manifesto commitment to uncover the truth about Orgreave and to rebuild public confidence in policing. It will investigate the events of that day, resulting in the arrest of 95 picketers and scores of injuries, which left a lasting impact on communities across South Yorkshire and beyond. It will examine the planning undertaken by the police and government for the policing of the demonstration at Orgreave on 18 June 1984, including relevant decision making in the leadup to the day; what happened on the day; the immediate aftermath and lasting impact on individuals and communities, including the subsequent public narrative; and the charging decisions and prosecutions relating to those arrested at Orgreave..

As announced on 21 July last year, the Inquiry will be chaired by the Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, the Bishop of Sheffield. He will be supported by a panel of independent experts appointed in accordance with section 4 of the Act. I am pleased to confirm the appointment of the following panel members to support the Chair in his work:

Baroness Mary Bousted, a former senior trade union leader representing teachers, leaders, and support staff and workers. She led the panel which, in April 2025, published the report of its independent review of the Police Federation of England and Wales. She will provide relevant knowledge and insight concerning the strategic and operational leadership and management of trades unions

Wendy Williams CBE, a former chief prosecutor and, between 2015-2024, an Inspector in His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. She published the report of her independent Windrush Lessons Learned Review in March 2020, and her update report on the Home Office’s response in March 2022. She will provide independent insight on police governance, and the decision-making and effectiveness of police forces.

Dr. Joanna Gilmore, a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of York, whose research expertise includes public order law, human rights and policing policy. Drawing on her socio-legal and oral history research into the 1984-85 miners’ strike, she will contribute analysis of the broader societal, legal and political issues arising from the events at Orgreave.

Dr. Angie Sutton-Vane, an historian with extensive experience in evidence-based research, historical accountability and the archiving, preservation of and access to police force records. She will provide expertise on the interpretation of historical records, particularly those of the police.

The panel will operate under the agreed Terms of Reference, a copy of which will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses today.

Answering body: Home Office

Section 17 of the Inquiries Act 2005 requires the Chair of an Inquiry established under the Act to act with fairness and with regard to the need to avoid any unnecessary cost. Once the Orgreave Inquiry is established, it will be expected to publish its costs periodically. Ministers will meet with the Chair to discuss budgets and timetables in more detail once the terms of reference have been published, at which point it will be possible to make more reliable estimates on the inquiry’s time and cost.

Under the 2005 Act, there are legal requirements concerning the expertise, balance and impartiality of the Chair. The previous Home Secretary made the decision to appoint the Chair of the Inquiry on the basis of those requirements being met.

Answering body: Home Office

As set out in the previous Home Secretary’s Written Ministerial Statement of 21 July 2025, the Orgreave Inquiry will be established as a statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005, with a small panel of independent experts to be appointed in due course.

The appointment of panel members will therefore be made in accordance with provisions in the Inquiries Act 2005. Those appointments and any related remuneration matters remain to be determined.

Details of panel members and the Inquiry’s terms of reference will be provided to both Houses at the earliest opportunity.

Answering body: Cabinet Office

The table below sets out the list of open statutory and non-statutory inquiries and the year in which they were established. This includes inquiries that have published but not yet closed. The table does not include public inquiries which have been announced but have not yet been formally established, namely inquiries into events at Orgreave, the death of Patrick Finucane and the Independent Commission on Grooming Gangs.

<tbody>

Year established

Inquiry

Statutory or non-statutory

2025

Nottingham Inquiry

Statutory

2025

Independent inquiry into Manston short-term holding facility / Manston Inquiry

Non-statutory

2025

Southport Inquiry

Statutory

2023

Jalal Uddin Inquiry

Statutory

2023

Cranston Inquiry

Non-statutory

2023

Andrew Malkinson Inquiry

Non-statutory

2023

Thirlwall Inquiry

Statutory

2023

Inquiry into the preventability of the Omagh bombing

Statutory

2022

Independent inquiry relating to Afghanistan

Statutory

2022

Dawn Sturgess Inquiry

Statutory

2022

Fuller Inquiry

Non-statutory

2022

Angiolini Inquiry

Non-statutory

2022

UK Covid-19 Inquiry

Statutory

2021

Lampard Inquiry

Statutory

2020

Post Office Horizon IT inquiry

Statutory

2017

Infected Blood Inquiry

Statutory

2015

Undercover Policing Inquiry

Statutory

2004

Robert Hamill Inquiry

Statutory

</tbody>

Answering body: Home Office

The violent scenes that took place at Orgreave Coking Plant on 18 June 1984 were a pivotal moment in the nationwide miners’ strike of 1984–85. In total, 95 picketers were arrested and charged with riot and violent disorder, but all charges were later dropped after evidence was discredited. The events of that day have had a lasting impact on those present and on their families and communities, as well as on the relationship between policing and coalfield communities at that time.

Whilst there have been significant changes in the oversight of policing since 1984, and to the way that public order is now policed, questions about the specific events of Orgreave have remained unanswered for too long. More than forty years on, it is time that every individual affected by the events of that day receives the answers they deserve.

This Government made a commitment in its manifesto to ensure, through an investigation or inquiry, that the truth about events at Orgreave comes to light. Today, consistent with that promise, I am announcing the Government’s decision to establish an inquiry into the events at the Orgreave Coking Plant on 18 June 1984.

The Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, the Bishop of Sheffield, has agreed to chair the inquiry. He will be supported by a small panel of independent experts who will be appointed in due course.

The purpose of the inquiry will be to aid public understanding of how the violent clashes and injuries caused at Orgreave on 18 June 1984, and the events immediately after, came to pass. It will be a statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005, with the appropriate powers to compel the provision of information where necessary.

It will be key for the inquiry to have access to all information which it deems relevant. For that reason, I have recently written to all police forces, the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the College of Policing, and all government departments, to ask that all material they hold relating to the events of Orgreave be retained, in order that it can be provided in a timely manner to the inquiry if requested.

Recognising the need for an inquiry to deliver swiftly whilst avoiding any undue impact on individuals’ wellbeing, I hope the inquiry will look to previous examples of good practice – such as the Hillsborough Independent Panel – to inform its method of delivery.

I am currently in the process of consulting the Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox on a proposed terms of reference and I have asked him to engage with key stakeholders as part of that process. I will place a final copy of the terms of reference in the Libraries of both Houses at the earliest opportunity thereafter.

In line with the Inquiries Act 2005, the direction of the inquiry’s investigations will be a matter for the Chair.

Answering body: Home Office

Police forces are independent of government and decisions concerning the management of their records are for them to make in accordance with their respective review, retention and disposal policies. However, the Government expects any such decisions to be made in accordance with relevant legislation and national guidance.

Further details about the Government’s manifesto commitment for an investigation or inquiry into the events at Orgreave will be made available in due course.

Answering body: Home Office

Police forces are independent of government and decisions concerning the management of their records are for them to make in accordance with their respective review, retention and disposal policies. However, the Government expects any such decisions to be made in accordance with relevant legislation and national guidance.

Further details about the Government’s manifesto commitment for an investigation or inquiry into the events at Orgreave will be made available in due course.

Answering body: Home Office

Police forces are independent of government and decisions concerning the management of their records are for them to make in accordance with their respective review, retention and disposal policies. However, the Government expects any such decisions to be made in accordance with relevant legislation and national guidance.

Further details about the Government’s manifesto commitment for an investigation or inquiry into the events at Orgreave will be made available in due course.

Answering body: Home Office

The Home Secretary and the Minister of State for Policing and Crime Prevention have been meeting with a number of stakeholders to discuss the delivery of the Government’s manifesto commitment on Orgreave.

Next steps will be announced in the normal way in due course.

Answering body: Home Office

The Home Secretary and the Minister of State for Policing, Fire and Crime have already met with the Orgreave and Truth and Justice Campaign and the National Union of Mineworkers to discuss the Government’s manifesto commitment of holding an investigation or inquiry into the events at Orgreave. in October 2024. Ministers found this to be a positive meeting and have been meeting with a number of stakeholders to discuss the manifesto commitment for an investigation or inquiry into the events at Orgreave.

Next steps will be announced in due course.

Answering body: Home Office

The Home Secretary and the Minister of State for Policing, Fire and Crime have already met with the Orgreave and Truth and Justice Campaign and the National Union of Mineworkers to discuss the Government’s manifesto commitment of holding an investigation or inquiry into the events at Orgreave. in October 2024. Ministers found this to be a positive meeting and have been meeting with a number of stakeholders to discuss the manifesto commitment for an investigation or inquiry into the events at Orgreave.

Next steps will be announced in due course.

Answering body: Home Office

The Home Secretary and the Minister of State for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention have been meeting with a number of stakeholders to discuss the manifesto commitment for an investigation or inquiry into the events at Orgreave.

Next steps will be announced in due course.

Answering body: Home Office

The Home Secretary and the Minister of State for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention have met with the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, and the Home Office is developing plans to deliver on the Government’s manifesto commitment to ensure, through an investigation or inquiry, that the truth about the events at Orgreave comes to light.

Answering body: Home Office

The Government is committed to an investigation or inquiry into the policing of the events at Orgreave on 18 June 1984 and will consider options for delivering this. We will ensure that the House is updated as soon as practicable.

Answering body: Home Office

There are no plans to establish a public inquiry into the policing of the events at the Orgreave coking plant on 18 June 1984.

Answering body: Home Office

There are no plans to undertake an assessment of the potential merits of establishing an independent inquiry into the policing of the miners’ strike in 1984-85 in England and Wales.