6 February 2012

Minister of Magic Edwin Glass has opened an official inquiry into the security of werewolf safehouses.

“As is protocol with high profile events with great public interest,” Glass explained in a statement today, “I have opened an inquiry into the use of Ministry-operated safehouses and full moon safeguarding operations following the devastating events at the start of the year.”

The inquiry comes nearly a month after the 9^th of January when two wizards were discovered kidnapped from the Dumfriesshire safehouse and later found killed. The attacker also assaulted and injured both safehouse attendants.[1]

The Minister continued: “An inquiry aims to help restore public confidence by investigating the facts and making recommendations to prevent recurrence. It is, however, not to establish liability - a separate legal investigation remains underway led by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.”

Glass is expected to name Tamzin Ollivander as chair of the inquiry, with the likely reason being her alleged objectivity in the matter with no werewolf family and no Ministry ties. It is as yet unknown whether a panel will be appointed to assist Ollivander as chair.

Under close scrutiny will be the Werewolf Wing and recent reforms that have loosened werewolf regulations. The inquiry is also expected to determine the connection, if any, to other recent violence against werewolves. The first phase of the inquiry will involve fact-finding and extensive interviews with a first report due in March.

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More info about Inquiries
Graciously provided by Kit

A Minister [Edwin] can cause an independent inquiry in response to a particular event or a series of events [werewolf safe house breach & missing werewolves]. Most are triggered by events, but they can also be held where there is a concern that something has failed to happen, or particular systems have not operated properly.

The inquiry has no power to determine civil or criminal liability. There is often a strong feeling, particularly following high profile, controversial events, that an inquiry should determine who is to blame for what has occurred. However, Inquiries are not courts and their findings cannot and do not have legal effect.

The aim is to help restore public confidence in systems or services [werewolf safehouses] by investigating the facts and making recommendations to prevent recurrence, not to establish liability or to punish anyone. It is not intended that the inquiry should be hampered in its investigations by a fear that responsibility may be inferred from a determination of a fact.

The Inquiry Panel - appoints a panel appropriate to the circumstances under investigation [might be useful to also recruit a werewolf npc? Looks like 4 is quite ordinary for a panel]. Or a chairman can be appointed to sit alone. If the chairman will not sit alone, the Minister will consult them on the appointment of any other panel members. [So Tamzin could also say she wants others appointed]

The Minister is required to consider the need for balance in relation to the issues - for example, equal number of women and men, and balance the relevant experience the panel members bring. This does not mean that the panel must contain people who would be seen as representing all the groups with an interest in the inquiry.

The panel needs to have the ability to conduct an informed analysis of the evidence and produce a full and useful report. Inquiry Report - The inquiry chairman [Tamzin] is expected to deliver a report to the commissioning Minister [Edwin] and set out what the final report may contain.

The panel may be provided with expert assistance [this seems to be like experts in the area, or legal people as well as a few staff to do admin]. The panel alone however has responsibility for the contents of the report. They may however ask for assistance from those working for the inquiry, in writing the report.

The chairman is required to do whatever they consider reasonable to ensure public access to evidence. Broadcasting of proceedings is at their discretion. There may be circumstances in which part or all of an inquiry must be held in private. [This might be allowing an audience including Daily Prophet / WW to sit in and observe and report as Tamzin and the panel interview witnesses - who can include people responsible]

The chairman has power to require the production of evidence. An inquiry panel will usually ask for information informally first, and the vast majority of these requests will be complied with. But the most common times compulsion is used is when: a) a person is unwilling to comply, b) a person is willing to comply but is worried about the possible consequences of disclosure (for instance breaking confidentiality agreements) [I guess healers and lawyers fall into this] or c) a person is unable to provide information because there is a ban on disclosure. [It might be intriguing to have some reluctant witnesses, like other werewolves, or attendants]

Witnesses have the same privileges as civil proceedings in that they are able to refuse to provide evidence if it a) is covered by legal professional privilege, b) might incriminate them/spouse/civil partner or c) because it relates to what has taken place in Parliament. [The last would be equivalent of Level 1 shizz, since Edwin's the equivalent of the magical population's Member of Parliament]

1.	9 Jan 2012 - House of the Rising Sun