Southport Inquiry hearings conclude

The Southport Inquiry, chaired by Sir Adrian Fulford, concluded Phase 1 of its hearings on 6 November 2025. The Inquiry was established after the events of 29 July 2024 when Axel Rudakubana carried out a knife attack at a children’s dance class in Southport in Merseyside. He murdered three young girls, Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguiar and Bebe King, and injured ten other people. Sixteen others survived the attack but live with the serious emotional scars.

Over nine weeks of hearings between July and November 2025, the Inquiry heard live evidence from over 90 witnesses, including commemorative and impact statements. After hearing evidence about the attack itself, it then moved to hear evidence about the sale and delivery of knives and weapons to the perpetrator, and about his previous contacts with policing, counter-terrorism, social care, mental health services, and education. It also heard evidence from the perpetrator’s family. It is expected to report by spring 2026. Phase 2 of the Inquiry will investigate the wider issue of violence-fixated young people and the systems in place for managing the risk they pose.

Jason Beer KC and Jonathan Dixey appeared on behalf of Counter Terrorism Police North West.

Francesca Whitelaw KC, Cicely Hayward and Rob Harland appeared on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

John Goss appeared as Counsel to the Inquiry.

5 Essex Chambers holds a Band 1 ranking in Inquests & Public Inquiries in both Chambers UK and Legal 500. Its barristers have appeared in virtually every major public inquiry in recent years.