The Nuclear Justice Project & The Merlin Files
In 2026, the Centre for People's Justice brought together LABRATS (an international charity representing and advocating for those affected by British Nuclear Testing), award-winning journalist Susie Boniface, historian Dr Jon Hogg, and students from the University of Liverpool to develop a project to analyse the Merlin files. The Merlin files contain over 20,000 declassified MoD documents relating to Britain's nuclear testing programme.
Students in the Nuclear Justice Project
Politics, History and Law students from across The University of Liverpool processed and analysed the Merlin files for evidence of an active nuclear testing programme in Britain and overseas, by the British government. This work served to support ongoing legal claims of over 500 nuclear test veterans seeking truth and compensation for them and their families.
Students also catalogued files to develop a historical archive which will be publicly accessible, as a tribute to the sacrifices made by those globally affected by the nuclear testing programmes.
Students were supported by GO Justice through the newly established Centre for People’s Justice Volunteer Network. The network encourages students to reflect on their experiences, develop their employability skills, and confidently articulate the knowledge and competencies they gain through their involvement in the projects across the Centre.
Below, three of our fantastic student volunteers produced reflective blogs about how participation in the Nuclear Justice Project has shaped their academic journeys and demonstrate why law clinic experiences are not just for law students but can be transformative for students across all disciplines.
