24 June 2026
Areas are selected using this criteria. The Chair and Panel consider a range of evidence when making decisions.
This includes:
- what victims and survivors have told us
- evidence of harm or risk
- concerns about how organisations responded
- previous reviews and unresolved issues
- levels of public concern
- what each investigation will contribute to national learning
The Chair and Panel make decisions based on all available evidence and information. No single factor determines whether an area is selected.
Areas may be selected in phases as the Inquiry’s evidence and analysis develop.
Selecting an area does not mean the Inquiry has reached any conclusions about what happened there. It means those issues will now be looked at in detail.
Once an area has been selected, the Inquiry will gather and examine evidence before publishing its findings and recommendations. All areas in England and Wales remain within the scope of the Inquiry’s national work.