The Shipman Inquiry: Was it worth it? [Part 2] by Lady Justice Janet Smith

TL;DR

The first stage of the public inquiry into criminal activities cost the public 21 million pounds and provided reliable answers to the families, fulfilling the duty to investigate. The second stage identified incompetent police investigation.

Transcript

so my first report which described his criminal career and annexed the individual decisions was published in july 2002 about 18 months after we started work so by the time the whole inquiry was finished the cost to the public purse was about 21 million pounds let us say therefore that the first stage cost about 10 or 11 million was that part of the... Read More

Key Insights

• 🙂 The first stage of the public inquiry effectively provided reliable answers to the families involved and shed light on the criminal activities, serving the purpose of the inquiry.
• 🫵 Public inquiries are well-suited for uncovering the facts and gaining a panoramic view of the actions and methodology of individuals involved.
• 👮 The second stage of the inquiry focused on identifying failures and incompetence within the police investigation, offering transparency and accountability.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was the cost of the first stage of the public inquiry?

The first stage of the public inquiry cost approximately 10-11 million pounds, contributing to a total cost of 21 million pounds for the entire inquiry.

Q: What was the purpose of the first stage of the inquiry?

The first stage aimed to provide reliable answers to the families affected and investigate the criminal activities of the individual in question, fulfilling the state's duty to investigate.

Q: What was discovered in the second stage of the public inquiry?

The second stage revealed an incompetent police investigation into the reported high death rates associated with the individual, leading to the naming and shaming of two police officers.

Q: How does a public inquiry differ from a court case?

Unlike a court case, a public inquiry has no agenda and is focused on thoroughly investigating the facts in cases of public interest, commanding the production of evidence and witness testimonies.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The first stage of the public inquiry cost 10-11 million pounds and provided reliable answers to families, fulfilling the state's duty to investigate.

• The second stage focused on the incompetence of the police investigation into the criminal activities, naming and shaming two officers.

• A public inquiry is ideally suited for investigating and uncovering the facts in cases of public interest.