Overview

• Phase one of the public inquiry opened July 8 at Liverpool Town Hall to examine agency lapses before and during the July 2024 Southport knife attack
• On its second day, the inquiry heard evidence from four families of children who survived the attack as part of a forensic review of the perpetrator’s history
• Investigators will draw on disclosures and interviews from 15 bodies, including MI5, Counter-Terrorism Policing, NHS England and Merseyside Police
• A February review found that three Prevent referrals and six police contacts were closed prematurely despite clear indicators of risk
• Hearings will adjourn after this week’s sessions and resume on September 8, with a second phase next year set to explore broader youth violence trends