Independent inquiry into alleged unlawful activity by UK Special Forces during deliberate detention operations in Afghanistan
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-19)

An independent statutory inquiry is investigating alleged unlawful activity by UK Special Forces during deliberate detention operations in Afghanistan in the period mid-2010 to mid-2013.

On 15 December 2022, the Ministry of Defence announced an independent statutory inquiry to investigate and report on alleged unlawful activity by UK Armed Forces during deliberate detention operations (DDO) in Afghanistan in the period mid-2010 to mid-2013, and the adequacy of subsequent investigations into such allegations.

Read the oral statement announcing the inquiry in Parliament (https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2022-12-15/debates/534F182A-E2A4-4CC8-8942-8346F2E7D668/AfghanistanIndependentInquiry)

In July 2023, the Ministry of Defence issued a further statement (https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-07-05/hlws898) to confirm that the allegations relate to the UK Special Forces.

Since October 2023, the Inquiry has held both OPEN and CLOSED (not open to the public for national security reasons) hearings and has requested evidence from both State Core Participants – the MOD and the Royal Military Police (RMP) – on the areas under its Terms of Reference.

On 2 November 2025, the Inquiry released a written (https://iiaweb-prod.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/IIA-Update-November-2025-2.pdf) update and a video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgXM5n7Uc_A) update announcing, among other matters, that a set of planned hearings – known as Phase 3B hearings – will now be delayed due to new information becoming available to the Inquiry.

Support to the Inquiry, and to those affected by it, remains a top priority for the MOD, with the full support of the Secretary of State for Defence, Ministers, and Chiefs. The Department encourages anyone with relevant information to come forward, either by emailing the MOD’s Witness Legal Team (xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) or xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)) or by contacting the Inquiry directly (https://www.iia.independent-inquiry.uk/providing-information-to-the-inquiry/). Members or veterans of the RMP can contact the RMP Inquiry Team at xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

The Inquiry is being chaired by Lord Justice Sir Charles Haddon-Cave, a former senior presiding judge for England and Wales, who has previous experience in defence having been appointed by the Secretary of State for Defence to conduct The Nimrod Review, an independent review into broader issues surrounding the loss of the RAF Nimrod MR2 aircraft XV230 in Afghanistan in 2006.

Support for serving personnel and veterans

The wellbeing of its people is of the utmost importance to Defence.

There is a wide range of legal and welfare support available to serving personnel, veterans, and their families, who may be impacted by the inquiry.

Please access ‘Wellbeing support for Defence personnel and veterans’ above for more information.

Further information

Support for veterans and their families (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/find-support-for-veterans-and-their-families)

Website of the independent inquiry (https://www.iia.independent-inquiry.uk/)

Letter from Secretary of State for Defence to serving and former members of the armed forces (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-from-secretary-of-state-for-defence-to-serving-and-former-members-of-the-armed-forces)

Media Advisory Notice – Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/media-advisory-notice-independent-inquiry-relating-to-afghanistan)