| Day | Witness |
|---|---|
| Monday | Joe Bloggs |
| Tuesday | Joe Bloggs |
| Wednesday | Joe Bloggs |
| Thursday | Joe Bloggs |
| Friday | Joe Bloggs |
Opening Hearing
6 March 2024
Sir Ross Cranston, Chair of the Inquiry, delivered an opening statement at the Opening Hearing, outlining progress to date and detailing his intentions for the Inquiry.
Preliminary Hearing
24 October 2024
The Cranston Inquiry into the 2021 Channel crossing tragedy held a Preliminary Hearing in London on 24 October 2024, providing an update on progress and outlining plans for the next stage of its work.
Week 1 Opening Statements and Oral Evidence
Date
Witness
Opening Statements from Counsel to the Inquiry and Full Participants
Issa Mohamed Omar
Neal Gibson (Search and Rescue Mission Co-ordinator, HM Coastguard)
Christopher Norton (Accountable Manager, 2Excel Aviation Ltd), Graham Hamilton (Director of UK Search and Rescue, Bristow Helicopters Ltd) and Christopher Trubshaw (Search and Rescue Helicopter Captain, Bristow Helicopters Ltd)
Week 2 Oral Evidence
Date
Witness
Kevin Toy (Commander HMC Valiant, Border Force)
Karen Whitehouse (Border Force Higher Officer, Border Force Maritime Command Centre) and Dominic Golden (Aviation Tactical Commander, Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre, HM Coastguard)
Mike Bill (Divisional Commander, HM Coastguard), Christopher Barnett (Maritime Tactical Commander, HM Coastguard), David Jones (Maritime Tactical Commander, HM Coastguard) and James Crane (Team Leader, HM Coastguard).
Thomas Willows (Immigration Officer, Border Force Maritime Command Centre), Stuart Downs (Maritime Operations Officer, HM Coastguard) and Richard Cockerill (Team Leader, HM Coastguard)
Week 3 Oral Evidence
Date
Witness
George Papadopoulos (Staff Officer Small Boat Crossings Search and Rescue, HM Coastguard) and Professor Michael Tipton MBE (Expert Witness)
Simon Ling (Head of Lifeboats, Royal National Lifeboats Institution)
Witnesses not currently scheduled
Stephen Whitton OBE (Head of Border Force Maritime Command, Home Office) and Daniel O’Mahoney (Director, Clandestine Channel Threat Command, Home Office)
Week 4 – Oral Evidence, Family Impact Statements and Closing Statements
Date
Witness
Matthew Leat (Head of Infrastructure, HM Coastguard)
James Driver (Head of Maritime Security Division, Department for Transport)
Family Impact Statements
Family Impact Statements and Closing Statements