Call for Evidence

Foreword from the Chair

As Chair of the Orgreave Inquiry, I am pleased to launch this Call for Evidence. This marks a significant step in our collective pursuit of truth. The purpose of this Inquiry is to aid public understanding of the events at Orgreave Coking Plant on 18 June 1984, the subsequent prosecutions of those arrested and their enduring impact on individuals, families, and communities. Our mission is not only to establish the facts but also to foster resolution for all those affected. 

The Call for Evidence is now live, and I urge everyone with relevant information to respond by 22nd May 2026. We welcome submissions from all relevant parties and individuals, whether you were directly involved, witnessed the events, or hold material that addresses our Terms of Reference.

Every submission will be carefully reviewed. The Inquiry will consider all submissions and documents received to assess their relevance to our Terms of Reference. The Disclosure Protocol and the Protocol for Redactions and Restriction Orders published on the Inquiry’s website provide more details on how documents will be handled.

I want to reassure those providing material that personal and sensitive information will be redacted where necessary. The approach of this Inquiry is rooted in transparency: suitably redacted documents will be disclosed on the Inquiry website, allowing public scrutiny and fostering trust in our process. 

Listening will be at the heart of this Inquiry and later in the process I intend to visit communities to engage directly with those whose lives have been shaped by the events at Orgreave. Your experiences, insights, and documentation are vital to building a comprehensive and truthful account.

I am deeply grateful to all who contribute to this important endeavor. Together, we can ensure that the truth is heard and that lessons are learned for the future.

The Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox

Bishop of Sheffield

Chair of the Orgreave Inquiry

About this Call for Evidence

Who is this call for evidence is for?

  • Those directly impacted by the events that took place at Orgreave Coking Plant on 18 June 1984;
  • Any other interested organisations and individuals who have information relevant to the Inquiry.

The Inquiry would welcome views from those involved in and affected by the events that took place at Orgreave Coking Plant on 18 June 1984. This includes, but is not limited to, those from the mining community, members of the National Union of Miners (NUM), members of staff at South Yorkshire Police (SYP) and other police forces involved, including the Metropolitan Police, former employees at  British Steel Corporation (BSC) and the National Coal Board (NCB), members of staff from the Home Office, employees of media organisations and any other organisations or individuals who may have information that is relevant to and within the scope of the Inquiry.

The Inquiry expects and welcomes interested parties to provide evidence on the questions that are relevant to them, and it is not expected that all respondents will provide evidence on each question.

How to respond?

The Call for Evidence process will remain open until 22nd May 2026

About You

In your response, please state;

  • how you are connected to the events at Orgreave;
  • if you are replying on behalf of a group or organisation what the group or organisation’s name is; and
  • if you consent for your submission to be published with or without your name attributed. Please note that the starting point is that all relevant evidence received y the Inquiry will be published.

Questions of the Call for Evidence

In your response to each of the questions below, please be as concise as possible  

We want to hear your thoughts on the following questions:

  1. Please provide a brief overview of your personal background and describe any direct involvement you may have had with the events at Orgreave on 18 June 1984.
  2. If you participated in any planning or decision-making relating to these events either before or after 18 June 1984, please outline your role, the decisions or plans you were involved in, how these were agreed upon and the details of others involved.
  3. If you were present at Orgreave on 18 June 1984, we invite you to share your experiences including relating to any subsequent relevant events. If applicable, please indicate whether you were arrested or charged with any offences and your experiences of this.
  4. If you live(d) in or are/were involved in the local community, please provide information about the impact the events at Orgreave on 18 June 1984 had upon the community and/or its’ relationship with the Police.
  5. Please provide any additional information or supporting documents that you believe are relevant to this Call for Evidence. You may attach these materials with your response to the questions above. If you are aware of any other relevant documentation which is not in your control, please tell us about this.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences and insights. Your contribution is greatly appreciated, and we will carefully study and read all of the material sent to us.

The responses provided to the Call for Evidence will be analysed to explore any common themes and issues and will inform the Inquiry’s final report. We may contact you for a witness statement in due course or to answer any questions we have arriving from your response.

How to send responses

Please email us at legal@orgreave.public-inquiry.uk with your name, email address,  organisation you are submitting a response on behalf of, and what you are expecting to submit to the Inquiry. Upon receipt of this information, you will be separately emailed with instructions and a secure upload link where you can safely and securely upload your response and any supporting documents. It may take up to 7 days for the link to be sent to you.  Please inform us in advance if your submission is more than 4GB, in which case separate instructions will be provided.

We would prefer electronic responses. If this is not possible and you wish to post us documentation, please contact us via email and we will provide a postal address. Please note that the inquiry will not be able to reimburse postage costs.

Deadline for responses

This call for evidence closes at 11.59pm on 22nd May 2026.

We thank in advance all those who take the time to share their experiences and insights. Those contributions are greatly valued. We will carefully study and read all the material sent to help us gain a deeper understanding of the events at Orgreave.

Supporting materials and information handling

Please see the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference

How we will handle your information can be found on our Key Documents page