'As the mother of a brown boy…' theatre performance

The front cover of the book, 'Death and Disorder'. The bright red cover contrasts with the black and white image of a police officer, with their face shield down pointing a gun. The title is in black font, underneath a brief description in white font.

The front cover of the book, 'Death in the City', contains a black and white image of a car. Pink arrows point to bullet holes in the car rear window. The title and the authors' names, Melissa Benn and Ken Worpole, are in pink font on the cover.

'Death in the City' published

The cover of the booklet has the text sat diagonal in different directions. Alongside is a sketch of a skeleton wearing uniform.

'Deaths at Work: Accidents or Corporate Crime' published

'Dying on the Inside' published

'In the Care of the State?' published

'Lobbying from Below' by Mick Ryan is published

'The Right to Life' published

'Unlocking The Truth' published

20-52 play about Leon Patterson at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Angiolini Review report published

Four campaigners stand in the icy weather holding posters that represent gravestones of people who died from self-inflicted deaths in prisons. The image is dated 12 February 1985.

Appointment of two paid London workers

Benjamin Zephaniah’s ‘The one minutes of silence' poem

Brixton: spotlighting horrific prison conditions

Benjamin Zephaniah sat recording into a microphone his Radio 4 appeal.

Charity appeal on BBC Radio 4 with Benjamin Zephaniah

Charity appeal on BBC Radio 4 with Linton Kwesi Johnson

Corston Report published

Family reflections on Grenfell published

First 'lack of care' verdict at an inquest into a self-inflicted death

First INQUEST Family Forum

First INQUEST fringe meeting at Labour conference

First INQUEST Law magazine published

First INQUEST meeting

First UFFC procession

Gibraltar Shootings inquest

Gilly Singh Mundy dies

Harris Review report published

Red lights illuminate the St George's Hall Liverpool as the words 'Truth' and 'Justice' shine bright.

Hillsborough Football Disaster

Human Rights Act

INQUEST assists with Bishop James Jones's review of Hillsborough families' experiences

INQUEST Charitable Trust founded

INQUEST family support group starts up

Inquest into the Marchioness disaster begins

INQUEST is joint winner of the Human Rights Award

INQUEST Lawyers Group founded

INQUEST NORTHWEST set up

Learning from Death in Custody Inquests: A New Framework for Accountability

A black and white image of the front page of a Daily Mirror newspaper. The headline reads: 'Blind ship of death'

Marchioness Disaster

Non-means-tested legal aid for Article 2 inquests won

Seni's Law

Submission to Stephen Lawrence Inquiry

The Grenfell Tower fire

Our History

Appointment of two paid London workers

INQUEST was initally a volunteer-led campaign. In October 1982, the organisation received a grant from the Greater London Council (GLC) to monitor deaths in police custody and ensuing inquests in London. This funding allowed the Executive Committee to hire two workers, Dave Leadbetter and Tony Ward.

Marking the start of INQUEST's casework service, Dave and Tony supported families, wrote briefings and campaigned through multiple avenues: demonstrations, parliamentary politics and by engaging with the media.

Click below to read meeting minutes about their appointment and their 'London Workers' Report' in INQUEST's first Annual Report (1982/83). A summary of their first year working, they wrote:

The vast bulk of our daily work is concerned with campaigns and with families. Working with and for them is what INQUEST exists to do.

Annual Report 1982-83

(PDF 5.1 MB)

INQUEST meeting minutes September 1982

(PDF 1.3 MB)