'Justice delayed' Why trust in public inquiries to bring closure is fading

After the final report of the Grenfell fire inquiry was published, Hisam Choucair, who lost six family members in the blaze, said: "We did not ask for this inquiry... It's delayed the justice my family deserves."

- Haroon Siddique

Although he thanked the inquiry for its findings, Choucair was devastated that the police had to delay their criminal investigation until it had concluded. A decision on prosecutions is now not expected to happen until the end of 2026 at the earliest.

His reaction, which was echoed by others, raises questions about what public inquiries are for and whether they can offer closure.

Jason Evans, founder of the Factor 8 group, campaigns on behalf of those affected by the contaminated blood scandal. His father, Jonathan, died in 1993 after contracting HIV and hepatitis C from contaminated blood. He said those affected by the scandal, which has left more than 3,000 dead, had been through a range of emotions when it came to inquiries.