- Published
An inquiry into allegations British Special Forces murdered unarmed Afghan civilians has cost UK taxpayers £58m, figures from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) show.
asserted
figures → publish → Defence
When the inquiry was launched in 2023, its chair Lord Justice Haddon-Cave said it would aim to report, "at least on an interim basis", within 12-18 months.
asserted
it → launch → months
However, the inquiry has now been running for more than three and a half years, and has yet to publish any findings.
asserted
inquiry → run → findings
In a statement, the inquiry said its work was "greater and more complex than it originally envisaged".
asserted
it → say → statement
It added that delays by the MoD in disclosing information had also affected the timetable.
asserted
delays → add → timetable
The Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan (IIRTA) was established to investigate alleged war crimes committed by soldiers serving with the Special Air Service between 2010 and 2013, during so called night raids targeting the Taliban.
asserted
Inquiry → relate → Taliban
These include allegations the SAS murdered detainees and unarmed civilians, including children, during operations.
asserted
SAS → include → operations
It was set up by the former defence secretary, Ben Wallace, in the wake of allegations first reported by BBC Panorama, in 2022.
asserted
It → set → 2022
While much of the inquiry's work has been carried out in closed sessions to protect the identities of serving personnel, it has published some evidence on its website.
asserted
it → carry → website
It has already heard evidence from senior UK military personnel who have said they believed the SAS carried out extra judicial killings of Afghan civilians.
asserted
SAS → hear → civilians
It has also heard concerns about the secrecy in which the SAS operated and that previous investigations into the allegations were ended prematurely.
asserted
investigations → hear → allegations
Those included the salary of the chair, Sir Charles Haddon-Cave, its secretariat, lawyers and expert witnesses.
asserted
Those → include → chair
The inquiry said its expenditure was proportionate and overseen judicially.
asserted
expenditure → say → ?
However, the Ministry of Defence has given a much higher figure.
asserted
Ministry → give → figure
Following a Freedom of Information request submitted by the BBC, the MoD put the overall cost at £58m to March 2026.
asserted
MoD → follow → March
The figure included the costs to the MoD as well as those of the inquiry team, it said.
asserted
it → include → team
The MoD said that 74 of its staff were currently working more than 50% of their time on the inquiry.
asserted
74 → say → inquiry
The SAS Regimental Association (SASRA), which represents more than 5,000 SAS veterans and serving personnel, said it remained committed to supporting the inquiry and helping achieve a "timely solution".
asserted
it → represent → solution
But in a statement, it added: "The prolonged nature of the process is itself causing significant and widening harm."
asserted
nature → add → harm
It said the inquiry posed a "significant challenge, not only to the regiment's reputation and the wellbeing and morale of its members, but in the association's view, to the operational effectiveness of a key element of the nation's defence".
asserted
inquiry → say → defence
It said the cumulative effect of decades of legal scrutiny arising from operations in Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria was placing a significant burden on individuals, families and the association itself.
asserted
effect → say → individuals
The Bloody Sunday Inquiry, which found the killing of 13 civil rights protesters in Northern Ireland by British soldiers was "unjustified", took 12 years to complete and cost more than £190m.
In response, the inquiry said it remained committed to the welfare and safety of UK Special Forces personnel, and a timely conclusion to the inquiry was in everyone's interest.
asserted
conclusion → find → interest
"The chair remains committed to the welfare and safety of UK Special Forces personnel and witnesses who come forward to the inquiry."
asserted
who → remain → inquiry
The Aporia
