News

# UK Government Records Relating To The Troubles Published By The National Archives

A batch of almost 1000 UK Government records relating to the Troubles has been
digitised and published online by the National Archives.

Published 21 April 2026

![A map of Belfast showing the various religious areas](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/media/images/DEFE_259_2813_Belfa_wa33lhT.2e16d0ba.fill-1800x720.format-jpeg.jpegquality-60.bgcolor-fff.jpg)

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, has welcomed the
publication today of approximately 1000 Government records relating to the
Northern Ireland Troubles by The National Archives, as part of an ongoing
digitisation partnership.

These records are already open in hard-copy at The National Archives. By making
these files available for free online, this initiative will make it easier for
the public to access records that are currently only viewable by visiting The
National Archives at Kew.

This first batch of files includes records offering fresh insights into the
conflict’s early stages, including: the Civil Rights Campaign; the Outbreak of
Conflict and the deployment of the Army; and the establishment of the Northern
Ireland Office (NIO) in 1972 following the suspension of Stormont.

These records, which include maps and documents from a range of government
departments, offer insights into UK Government policy and decision-making during
a pivotal period in British and Irish history. They will be invaluable for
researchers, journalists, students, educators and policymakers.

> As we mark the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, the publication of
> these historical records will help us to reflect on the past, providing
> important context for understanding of the conflict and the long path to peace.
>
> I am grateful to The National Archives for their work on this project. This is
> an exciting starting point, and I look forward to further batches planned for
> digitisation.
>
> I am delighted to see that records published as a result of this collaboration
> are already being used to inform educational materials and engage people in
> understanding the past in Northern Ireland'

Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

An initial pilot phase of the digitisation project took place in May 2023, when
The National Archives brought together a selection of key documents to mark the
25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. These are housed on the bespoke
[Pathways to Peace and
Reconciliation](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/northern-ireland-pathways-peace-reconciliation/key-documents/)
landing page.

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