Final report and publication

The Commission produces its final report after confidential consultation on a draft report. Sometimes, more investigation or analysis occurs, or those being consulted may be invited to give feedback in person before the Commission. The draft text may change in light of new information. After deliberating on and approving a final report the Commission then gives advance notice to those involved and publishes the final report. 

Feedback

The investigation team and Commissioners carefully consider feedback on the draft report. 

Sometimes more investigation or analysis may occur, or those giving feedback may be invited to appear before the Commission. Any part of the draft report may change to take proper account of the feedback and any follow-up work. The investigation team and in-house solicitor receive and review submissions and may ask the submitter for further clarification or re-analyse evidence. 

The investigation team provides the Commissioners with the submissions , an analysis of them, and recommendations for any changes. The Commissioners consider whether taking proper account of the submissions requires further evidence gathering, analysis, or wording changes.

Possible amendments 

Sometimes the Commissioners may invite submitters to discuss their submission in person, or they may personally interview a witness to help finalise their decision on a contentious point. Occasionally the changes made to a draft report are significant enough to require consultation on a further draft report, which will go to persons consulted previously. This further draft will take account of the consultation round and any follow-up work required during consideration of feedback.

Approval

Once the Commission approves a final report, it goes through final proofreading and other checks before printing. The final report will include responses to recommendations, if received before the final publication time.

TAIC provides advance copies in confidence to the persons and organisations consulted, as well as to the Ministers and Ministry of Transport, modal regulator, and Coroner if anyone died. Where possible, victims and families of anyone who died will be given advance notice that the report is to be published, a confidential advance copy, and possibly a briefing.

Reports are typically made public on our website on a Thursday. Anyone who has self-subscribed via the website will receive an email notifying them of publication. For the media, we make a spokesperson available who can describe the inquiry process and report contents. For higher profile events, we may hold a news media conference, or wider briefings of stakeholders with a Commissioner as spokesperson.

All our reports are published on our website and can be downloaded in PDF form. Printed copies may be purchased.

Final Report

Every TAIC final report:

• Sets out and analyses the facts of the event, identify contributing factors,
• Identifies safety lessons,
• Notes safety actions taken since the event, and
• Makes recommendations to help avoid similar occurences in future.

TAIC reports include only information that is necessary for the purpose of the report.