Last month PEBA members Freddie Humphreys and Millie Critchlow hosted an Inquiry Training Event in partnership with the University of Westminster, designed to give mentees and trainee planners a practical look at the realities of public inquiries.
Participants in the mentoring scheme supported by PEBA in their third year of study or on professional training courses were invited to take part and the response was overwhelming with nearly 30 mentees applying to attend. Ultimately whilst we could only accommodate twelve participants due to logistical constraints, the enthusiasm demonstrated by those who applied and attended underscored a clear demand for interactive learning opportunities.
The day began with talks from the barristers on the different stages involved in preparing for an inquiry and real world tips on what to expect at inquiries themselves. This was followed by a detailed presentation from Inspector Ware providing insights into the process from the perspective of a Planning Inspector. Attendees were then able to witness a mock inquiry before splitting into smaller groups to have a go themselves. In these groups, mentees and university students took turns performing mini-mock inquiries focused specifically on practising cross-examination.
The feedback from the mentees has been largely positive. For many, this was their first opportunity to conduct cross-examination in any setting. They expressed deep gratitude for the chance to engage with this core skill, noting that such practical experiences are scarce. Given the success of the event, hopefully it can be rolled out again and ideally expanded to allow more students to practice their witness handling skills.
If any members would like to be involved in organising similar events going forward they should contact the PEBA committee. Similarly, suggestions for other ideas to provide mentees with opportunities to practice the tools of the trade would be gratefully received.