Expert Transcription for UK Public Inquiries
Need a working transcript of a lawfully recorded witness interview, expert consultation or case-preparation meeting linked to a UK public inquiry? We can assess authorised audio and agree the transcript style, speaker labels, timecodes and confidentiality requirements with your team.
Official public-inquiry hearing transcripts belong to the inquiry's published record. Check its official website and any restriction orders first; never send unauthorised or restricted audio to an external provider.
Lawfully held recordings that may support public-inquiry casework
These are examples of private or approved preparation recordings. They are not a promise that the inquiry has appointed us to transcribe its hearings, nor permission to make or share a restricted recording.
Witness preparation interviews
Where legally recorded and permitted to be disclosed, an interview with a witness or relevant participant can be transcribed for the instructing legal team. Agree who controls the recording, whether witness confidentiality applies and any redaction instructions.
Expert and technical briefings
Research, engineering, medical or other technical conversations may need a careful transcript with specialist terminology, speaker identification and uncertainty clearly marked. Provide an approved glossary where relevant.
Stakeholder and consultation sessions
Private consultation meetings, voluntary listening sessions and stakeholder briefings may be transcribed if the organiser has the necessary recording and disclosure permissions. Sensitive participants and personal data require additional checks.
Lawfully shared audio and video
A recorded legal conference or case-preparation call can be assessed for verbatim or intelligent-verbatim transcription, time references and consistent formatting. A published inquiry hearing recording follows its inquiry's rules for reuse.
For broader options, see legal transcription and tribunal and inquiry transcription guidance.
Public inquiry hearing transcripts follow the inquiry's own procedures
Under the Inquiries Act 2005, a statutory public inquiry may impose restrictions on access and on disclosure or publication of evidence. Whether hearing transcripts are published, redacted, restricted or available on request is determined by each inquiry's procedures.
- Check the inquiry website: many inquiries publish hearing-day transcripts and recordings, sometimes after redaction reviews.
- Observe section 19: restriction notices and orders can limit the disclosure of written and recorded material and may persist beyond the inquiry.
- Confirm who controls the audio: a witness, solicitor or other party should not assume that attending a public hearing authorises a separate recording or external transcription.
- Agree confidential handling: identify permitted recipients, transfer arrangements, pseudonyms, redactions and retention or deletion before sharing files.
- Keep versions distinct: a private working transcript does not replace an inquiry-issued hearing transcript or independently prove the facts asserted.
For example, the Thirlwall Inquiry explains that daily hearing transcripts were published subject to restrictions and review for redactions or ciphers; other inquiries may follow different processes.
Transcription briefs for representatives, witnesses and inquiry teams
Keep the agreed working transcript useful and traceable without implying it carries the authority of the inquiry's official published record.
Legal and casework preparation
Where the relevant inquiry permits the use of material, instructed representatives may need working transcripts of lawful private interviews, conferences or expert consultations. An internal working transcript is not the inquiry's certified official record.
Interview and evidence review
A permitted private recording may assist preparation, fact checking or review. Record exactly what was said, note inaudible passages and identify any subsequent corrections rather than silently rewriting testimony.
Approved listening and research
Administrative, research or support teams can commission transcription of material they are permitted to provide. Record source, speakers, file versions, permitted recipients and required retention or deletion arrangements.
For an example of a public inquiry's own transcript archive, see Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry public hearings, where recorded proceedings and transcripts are linked by hearing.
How to commission a public inquiry working transcript
Agree the source authority and confidentiality first; the enquiry form below is for a project description, not restricted evidence or recordings.
Confirm permission and recording source
Identify the inquiry or preparation work, who recorded the audio, the lawful sharing basis, any section 19 restriction order and the intended recipients. Do not send restricted recordings in the first enquiry.
Agree the transcription specification
Specify duration, speakers, accents, technical terms, strict or intelligent verbatim, timestamps, redactions and the review and correction procedure. Confirm a suitable secure file-transfer route.
Commission the agreed working transcript
After permission, confidentiality, price and format are agreed, arrange authorised delivery of the audio and receive the agreed transcript for review. Official inquiry-issued transcripts remain with the inquiry.
UK public inquiry transcription FAQs
Can you provide an official transcript of a UK public inquiry hearing?
Official inquiry hearing transcripts are produced or published according to the relevant inquiry's own arrangements. Many public inquiries place daily hearing transcripts on their official websites. We do not claim to issue an inquiry's official transcript or to be its appointed provider.
Can a solicitor order a transcript of a private witness interview?
Potentially, where the recording was lawful and the instructing party has authority to disclose it for transcription. The source, participants, confidentiality conditions and intended use should be confirmed before audio is transferred.
Do public inquiry restrictions still apply to recordings and transcripts?
Yes. Section 19 of the Inquiries Act 2005 allows restriction notices or orders affecting attendance and disclosure or publication of evidence. Do not disclose restricted audio or text without appropriate authority; restrictions may continue after the inquiry.
Are inquiry hearing transcripts available for free online?
Many inquiries publish hearing transcripts themselves, sometimes after reviews for redaction and restrictions. Check the official inquiry's hearing or evidence page first; availability differs between inquiries.
Can you add timestamps, speaker labels and corrections?
A working transcript can be commissioned with speaker identification, agreed timecodes, verbatim conventions, unclear-audio markers and a correction log. The transcript should not silently change the underlying statements.
Can confidential or anonymised witnesses be included?
Only when the recording may be disclosed and the required protective measures have been agreed. Ciphers, pseudonyms, personal-data redactions and restricted evidence must follow the relevant inquiry's directions.
Is a private transcript automatically admissible evidence?
No. Transcription records what can be heard on an authorised source file. The inquiry, court or legal adviser determines the document's evidential use, disclosure permissions and whether official verification is needed.
How much does inquiry-related transcription cost?
Cost and timing depend on audio length and quality, the number of speakers, complexity, transcription conventions, redaction, review and delivery instructions. Share project details without uploading restricted material to receive an appropriate order assessment.
Start your public inquiry transcription enquiry
Tell us the recording's source and length, your authority to share it, the number of speakers and the requested working transcript format. We will assess the brief before any file transfer.
Start transcription order →Need an official hearing record? Check the relevant inquiry's published transcript archive.
Tell us about your transcription assignment
Describe the recording type, approximate length, speakers, format, deadline and whether you have authority to share the audio. Do not put restricted inquiry details or confidential witness data in the enquiry message.