The Secretary of State for Defence has formally granted authorisation to all personnel to disclose potentially relevant material to the Inquiry.
The Inquiry urges anyone who has any information which they may think is relevant to contact the Inquiry as soon as possible. It is important the Inquiry has all the information available in order to set out a comprehensive record of the failings that may have occurred and the subsequent impacts, whilst ensuring it is able to deliver findings and recommendations in a timely way.
You can contact the Inquiry in several ways.
If you are a member of the press, please contact us at PressEnquiries@iia.independent-inquiry.uk
You can email the Inquiry legal team on enquiries@iia.independent-inquiry.uk
You can also contact us on the Threema encrypted messaging service. Our Threema ID is ERPRE725.
The Inquiry has set up a Secure Drop site which uses Tor (The Onion Router).
SecureDrop is a tool to help people securely send messages and documents to the Inquiry. It uses the Tor network to preserve source anonymity, all communication is encrypted in transit and on our server. To avoid surveillance and interception, submissions from sources are decrypted on a device that is isolated from both the internet and our internal networks.
Use of the Tor network helps hide your identity online, but it does not guarantee the safety of the computer that you use to contact us. We recommend that you avoid accessing SecureDrop from small networks where use of a Tor browser may be monitored or restricted. If there is any risk of your browser activity being recorded, it’s advisable not to navigate straight from this information page to the Inquiry SecureDrop site. Instead, make a note of the SecureDrop ‘onion’ URL below and then wait to connect to the site at another time or on a different computer.
Please note down or copy the following link and paste into your Tor browser: http://fe5xlfo77lmtlystfszw5rxby45cp4m66k6azwjz67flh7swyhefggad.onion/
We understand you may have concerns about contacting the Inquiry and how we will use your information. We’ve developed a series of frequently asked questions to assist you. If you still have any questions, please contact the Inquiry team using the methods explained.
If I believe that I have information that might be relevant to the Inquiry, do I have to provide it to the Inquiry?
The Chief of the Defence Staff, the Permanent Secretary and each of the Heads of Service have made it clear that they expect anyone with potentially relevant information to cooperate fully and proactively by providing it to the Inquiry. It has been made clear that to do so is consistent with the fundamental values expected of all those who serve as members of the Armed Forces and Civil Servants.
Can I contact the Inquiry direct, or do I have to go via the Chain-of-Command or my line manager?
You can contact the Inquiry direct and are encouraged to do so. You don’t have to inform anyone or get the permission of anyone else.
If I provide you with information in confidence, will you keep it secret?
Yes. Information provided in confidence to the Inquiry will be treated with the utmost confidence. We will not reveal to the Ministry of Defence either the information or even the fact that you have been in touch, without your express consent. The Inquiry has sophisticated, independent, systems to ensure the security of information.
Am I allowed to tell the Inquiry about classified information?
Yes. The Inquiry has the ability to deal with all levels of classified information. In addition, the Attorney General has given a binding promise (in legal terms, an undertaking) that no-one will be prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act for giving information to the Inquiry.
What if my classified information is material that I have retained against Security Operating Procedures?
The Ministry of Defence is quite rightly concerned about documentation information that has been retained and shared without authority. Information below SECRET may be shared with the Inquiry freely. The Secretary of State for Defence has also authorised individuals to share SECRET and above classified documentation with the Inquiry, but where this is drawn to the attention of the MOD, they may investigate it as a potential breach of secure information handling, but only where it is proportionate and reasonably necessary to do so, having particular regard to whether that documentation has also been shared with an unauthorised person.
What if I gave an earlier false or incorrect account about what happened in Afghanistan to the RMP, in a statement, or in Official Staff Work?
The Attorney General, the Permanent Secretary and the Heads of Services have given a binding promise, (in legal terms, an undertaking) that they won’t use what you tell the Inquiry against you in any sort of prosecution or disciplinary proceedings for not telling the truth in the past. They have agreed to this as they want people to feel able to tell the truth about what happened without worrying that they will get themselves in trouble.
What if I was a witness to what others did or was aware of things, and I didn’t say something at the time or report my concerns, and I should have?
The Attorney General, the Permanent Secretary and the Heads of Services have given a binding promise, (in legal terms, an undertaking) that they won’t use what you tell the Inquiry against you in any sort of prosecution or disciplinary proceedings for not giving information about what others did or reported matters.
I have read that the Inquiry already knows about things I know, should I still come forward?
Yes. The Inquiry needs all information relevant to its work. Your contribution may be able to provide more detail or context to the particular issue you have heard about and so provide a fuller picture. Also, different perspectives can be highly valuable to understanding what may, or may not, have happened. Your information can assist in corroborating or linking with other material that the Inquiry has in its possession.
What happened when I get in touch with the Inquiry?
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:
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Following your contact by email, or by using one of the other confidential secure methods explained, a dedicated member of the Inquiry team will contact you as soon as possible, normally within two working days.
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They will ask for brief details to enable them to establish who will be your ongoing point of contact within the Inquiry team.
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Once initial contact has been made, then it is your choice how you wish to communicate (online, speak on the phone or by video-link, or to meet in a quiet discreet location). Whatever you feel comfortable with.
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Your point of contact will be keen to listen to what you would like to tell them. This process has been designed to enable you to speak freely, in confidence and in a safe environment, with your welfare in mind.
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You will be able to ask questions about the Inquiry’s work and procedures.
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You can then discuss how best to take things forward.
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Depending on the nature of your information, your point of contact will discuss with you what further steps may be necessary or desirable.
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You can be assured of the utmost care and discretion of the Inquiry at all times.
Will I have to attend a hearing?
Not all individuals who provide information to the Inquiry are required to attend a hearing or provide a written statement. Your dedicated point of contact will assess the information and talk through next steps.
If I am required to attend a hearing, can I give my evidence anonymously?
Yes, if the Chair decides it necessary to protect your identity, the Inquiry will put special measures in place for you. You will be able to discuss your concerns about anonymity with your dedicated point of contact.