Home Department

I am today announcing the appointment of the Forensic Science Regulator. Following an open competition conducted in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, I have decided to appoint Dr Marc Bailey. He is a highly experienced scientist who brings a wealth of scientific and administrative experience to the role. He has held multiple roles within the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency including as Chief Science, Research and Innovation Officer and Head of Analytical and Biological Sciences. His three-year term of appointment commences on 26 July.

I should like to record the Government’s appreciation of the former Regulator, Gary Pugh OBE, for his contribution towards the regulation of Forensic Science in England and Wales as the first ever statutory Regulator.

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The violent scenes that took place at Orgreave coking plant on 18 June 1984 were a pivotal moment in the nationwide miners’ strike of 1984-85. In total, 95 picketers were arrested and charged with riot and violent disorder, but all charges were later dropped after evidence was discredited. The events of that day have had a lasting impact on those present and on their families and communities, as well as on the relationship between policing and coalfield communities at that time.

While there have been significant changes in the oversight of policing since 1984, and to the way that public order is now policed, questions about the specific events of Orgreave have remained unanswered for too long. More than 40 years on, it is time that every individual affected by the events of that day received the answers they deserve.

This Government made a commitment in its manifesto to ensure, through an investigation or inquiry, that the truth about events at Orgreave comes to light. Today, consistent with that promise, I am announcing the Government’s decision to establish an inquiry into the events at the Orgreave coking plant on 18 June 1984.

The right Rev. Dr Pete Wilcox, the Bishop of Sheffield, has agreed to chair the inquiry. He will be supported by a small panel of independent experts who will be appointed in due course.

The purpose of the inquiry will be to aid public understanding of how the violent clashes and injuries caused at Orgreave on 18 June 1984, and the events immediately after, came to pass. It will be a statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005, with the appropriate powers to compel the provision of information where necessary.

Alongside my hon Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets (Justin Madders), I am publishing today the labour market enforcement annual strategy for 2025-26, submitted by the DLME Margaret Beels OBE. The strategy will be available on www.gov.uk.

The Director’s role was created by the Immigration Act 2016 to bring better focus and strategic co-ordination to the enforcement of labour market legislation by the three enforcement bodies which are responsible for state enforcement of specific employment rights:

The Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS);

His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs National Minimum and Living Wage enforcement team (HMRC NMW/NLW team); and

The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA).

Under Section 2 of The Act, the Director is required to prepare an annual labour market enforcement strategy, which assesses the scale and nature of non-compliance in the labour market and sets priorities for future enforcement by the three enforcement bodies and the allocation of resources needed to deliver those priorities. The annual strategy, once approved, is laid before Parliament.

The Director is a statutory office-holder independent from Government, but accountable to the Department for Business and Trade’s Secretary of State and the Home Secretary.

In line with the obligations under the Act, Margaret Beels submitted this strategy for 2025-26 on 31 March 2025.

Section 19(1) of the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011 requires the Secretary of State to report to Parliament as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of every relevant three-month period on the exercise of their TPIM powers under the Act during that period.

The level of information provided will always be subject to slight variations based on operational advice.

TPIM notices in force—as of 31 May 2025

2

Number of new TPIM notices served—during this period

0

TPIM notices in respect of British citizens—as of 31 May 2025

2

TPIM notices extended—during the reporting period

0

TPIM notices revoked—during the reporting period

1

TPIM notices expired—during reporting period

0

TPIM notices revived—during the reporting period

0

Variations made to measures specified in TPIM notices—during the reporting period

1

Applications to vary measures specified in TPIM notices refused—during the reporting period

0

The number of subjects relocated under TPIM legislation—during the reporting period

2

The TPIM Review Group keeps every TPIM notice under regular and formal review. TRG meetings were convened on 19, 20 and 22 May 2025.

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