A public inquiry has been established to examine the circumstances surrounding a knife attack in Southport that claimed the lives of three young girls.

The inquiry was announced following the tragic incident, which has prompted calls for a comprehensive investigation into the events leading up to and during the attack.

Public inquiries are typically established to examine matters of significant public concern and provide independent findings and recommendations. The scope and specific terms of reference for the Southport inquiry have been designed to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the attack.

The inquiry will examine various aspects of the incident, including the response of authorities and any systemic issues that may have contributed to the tragedy. Such investigations often take months or years to complete and typically result in detailed reports with recommendations for preventing similar incidents.

The families of the victims and the local community will be closely watching the inquiry's proceedings as they seek answers about what happened and how such tragedies might be prevented in the future.