Public Inquiry Chair announced

The Right Honourable Lord Bracadale will lead the independent Public Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Sheku Bayoh.

The appointment of Lord Bracadale, a retired senator of the College of Justice, was announced by Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf.

The statutory Public Inquiry, announced by Mr Yousaf in November 2019, will examine the circumstances leading up to Mr Bayoh’s death and the events that followed.

The Justice Secretary intends to meet Lord Bracadale, the Bayoh family and others over the coming weeks to discuss the terms of reference, before reporting to Parliament in due course. The terms of reference will determine the scope, direction and parameters of the Inquiry.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said:

“I am delighted that Lord Bracadale has agreed to chair this Public Inquiry. Lord Bracadale brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this important task of providing a clear understanding of the circumstances surrounding Mr Bayoh’s death.

“The Public Inquiry and its recommendations will identify lessons and improvements for the future to help prevent deaths in similar circumstances and build trust and confidence in policing.”

 Lord Bracadale said: "I welcome the invitation to chair the Public Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Sheku Bayoh.  I am grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice for appointing me.  I know that Mr Bayoh’s family and other interested parties, as well as the general public, will expect a careful and thorough examination of the facts. I very much hope that my inquiry will provide an open and transparent means of exploring the issues."

Background

Lord Bracadale (Alastair P. Campbell) was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Justiciary (Scotland’s supreme criminal court) in 2003 and appointed to the Inner House in 2013. In 1995 he was appointed Queen's Counsel, while in 1997-1998 he served as Home Advocate Depute. He presided over some of the most high-profile criminal trials in recent Scottish history before retiring as a judge in 2017.

In 2016 Lord Bracadale was appointed as a Surveillance Commissioner and subsequently, in 2017, a Judicial Commissioner (part-time) under the Investigatory Powers Act.

Lord Bracadale was appointed by Scottish Ministers in 2017 to lead the Independent Review of Hate Crime Legislation.

Read more information on Lord Bracadale.

Read the GIQ.

Read Mr Yousaf’s Parliamentary statement of November 12, announcing the intention to establish a statutory public inquiry.