Frequently asked questions

This Independent Statutory Inquiry has been set up to investigate serious allegations against British Armed Forces relating to detention operations in Afghanistan during the period mid-2010 to mid-2013, in particular that (1) unlawful killings were carried out by members of British Armed Forces during these operations, that (2) these killings were covered up, and that (3) investigations carried out by the Royal Military Police were inadequate. The Inquiry is also tasked with making recommendations as to further action and lessons learned.

Yes. It is a statutory inquiry, fully independent of Government and the MOD. It is chaired by one of the most experienced judges in the country.

Lord Justice Haddon-Cave has been appointed to chair this Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan.

Lord Justice Charles Haddon-Cave is a serving judge in the Court of Appeal. He is also a Privy Councillor. He has held a number of significant roles in the judiciary, including Senior Presiding Judge for England & Wales and Judge-in-charge of the Terrorism List. He chaired the Independent Review into the loss of RAF Nimrod XV230.

Lord Justice Haddon-Cave urges anyone who might have information relevant to the Inquiry’s investigations – including all members (serving or retired) of all UK military organisations – to get in touch with the Inquiry as soon as possible. He has emphasised:

1. The Inquiry is entirely independent of Government and MOD
2. Get in touch directly with the Inquiry team.
3. There is no need to tell MOD or Defence
4. Use the confidential secure mechanisms on the Inquiry website
5. All information will be handled with the utmost discretion

You can contact the Inquiry team directly by email on enquiries@iia.independent-inquiry.uk or by using any of the other confidential secure methods explained on the website (Threema encrypted messaging service or using IIA Secure Drop)

The Inquiry understands that you may have real concerns about what happens next. It is therefore important that you are aware of, and have confidence in, the steps the Inquiry has put in place:

1. Following your contact by email, or by using one of the other confidential secure methods explained on our website, a specially trained member of the Inquiry team will contact you as soon as possible, normally within two working days.
2. The Inquiry team member will ask for brief details to enable them to establish who will be your ongoing point of contact within the Inquiry team
3. Once initial contact has been made, then it is your choice how you wish to communicate (online, or speak on the phone, or video-link, or subsequently to meet in a quiet discreet location), whatever you feel comfortable with.
4. You will find the Inquiry team member keen to listen to what you would like to tell them. This process has been designed to enable you speak freely, in confidence and in a safe environment, with your welfare in mind.
5. You will be able to ask questions about the Inquiry’s work and procedures.
6. You and the Inquiry team member can then discuss how best to take things forward from your initial contact.
7. Depending on the nature of your information, the Inquiry team member will discuss with you what further steps may be necessary or desirable.
8. You can be assured of the utmost care and the discretion of the Inquiry at all times.

The majority of people will not need legal representation. If, however, you think you may need legal representation, you can discuss this with your Inquiry team member. If you already have legal representation, you are welcome to have them present at a meeting.

Whether or not you are asked to provide a witness statement or give evidence will depend on the relevance of the information you provide. The Chair has the power to order that hearings take place in private.

The Chair has the power to protect the identity of witnesses.

The Chair can request the Attorney-General to consider granting an undertaking that any evidence given by a person will not be used against that person in any subsequent criminal proceedings.

No. The Inquiry will determine whether there is ‘credible information’ that unlawful killings took place and may recommend further investigations are carried out by an appropriate authority.