This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/oct/21/ipcc-reconsiders-decision-not-to-investigate-hillsborough-police-chief-david-crompton
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| IPCC to review decision not to investigate police chief over Hillsborough | IPCC to review decision not to investigate police chief over Hillsborough |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The decision of the Independent Police Complaints Commission not to investigate the South Yorkshire police chief constable, David Crompton, over his force’s conduct at the Hillsborough inquests is to be reviewed after a furious reaction from families whose relatives died in the 1989 disaster. | The decision of the Independent Police Complaints Commission not to investigate the South Yorkshire police chief constable, David Crompton, over his force’s conduct at the Hillsborough inquests is to be reviewed after a furious reaction from families whose relatives died in the 1989 disaster. |
| The IPCC’s deputy chair, Rachel Cerfontyne, is said to have been taken aback by the families’ vehement opposition to the decision and immediately agreed to have it reviewed, although she has not yet confirmed who will conduct the review. | The IPCC’s deputy chair, Rachel Cerfontyne, is said to have been taken aback by the families’ vehement opposition to the decision and immediately agreed to have it reviewed, although she has not yet confirmed who will conduct the review. |
| In 2012 Crompton made a full apology, accepting that South Yorkshire police were responsible for the disaster at which 96 people died and that earlier police efforts to blame Liverpool fans at the FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham had been “disgraceful lies”. | In 2012 Crompton made a full apology, accepting that South Yorkshire police were responsible for the disaster at which 96 people died and that earlier police efforts to blame Liverpool fans at the FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham had been “disgraceful lies”. |
| New inquests into the disaster began in Warrington in March 2014 but bereaved families accused Crompton of continuing to blame Liverpool fans. | New inquests into the disaster began in Warrington in March 2014 but bereaved families accused Crompton of continuing to blame Liverpool fans. |
| At the inquests, South Yorkshire police argued against the jury being informed of his 2012 apology, along with previous apologies, and the force’s lawyers asked questions alleging that Liverpool supporters did misbehave and that other organisations were responsible. | At the inquests, South Yorkshire police argued against the jury being informed of his 2012 apology, along with previous apologies, and the force’s lawyers asked questions alleging that Liverpool supporters did misbehave and that other organisations were responsible. |
| Family members say that having to fight those claims deepened their trauma and was responsible for prolonging the inquests to more than double their projected length, ultimately extending to more than two years, the longest case heard by a jury in British legal history. | Family members say that having to fight those claims deepened their trauma and was responsible for prolonging the inquests to more than double their projected length, ultimately extending to more than two years, the longest case heard by a jury in British legal history. |
| On 26 April 2016 the jury found that the 96 people who died at Hillsborough were unlawfully killed due to the failures of South Yorkshire police and the officer in command, Ch Supt David Duckenfield, and that there was no misbehaviour by supporters that contributed to the disaster. | On 26 April 2016 the jury found that the 96 people who died at Hillsborough were unlawfully killed due to the failures of South Yorkshire police and the officer in command, Ch Supt David Duckenfield, and that there was no misbehaviour by supporters that contributed to the disaster. |
| Last week the IPCC announced it was not going to investigate the families’ complaint against Crompton, concluding that: “Although it was found that South Yorkshire police’s barristers did ask several questions about fan behaviour, these were infrequent and did not suggest that a deliberate or calculated approach was being pursued.” | Last week the IPCC announced it was not going to investigate the families’ complaint against Crompton, concluding that: “Although it was found that South Yorkshire police’s barristers did ask several questions about fan behaviour, these were infrequent and did not suggest that a deliberate or calculated approach was being pursued.” |
| The IPCC also revealed that South Yorkshire police force had refused to waive its legal professional privilege, which allows correspondence and instructions to lawyers to remain confidential. The IPCC said this meant any investigation into Crompton’s instructions to the force at the inquests would be “significantly hampered”. | The IPCC also revealed that South Yorkshire police force had refused to waive its legal professional privilege, which allows correspondence and instructions to lawyers to remain confidential. The IPCC said this meant any investigation into Crompton’s instructions to the force at the inquests would be “significantly hampered”. |
| The force explained that decision in a statement to the Guardian, saying the chief constable had decided after “a great deal of thought and reflection” that legal professional privilege was “a fundamental human right” and that if it were waived it would “pose a risk of undermining ongoing investigations and legal proceedings”. | The force explained that decision in a statement to the Guardian, saying the chief constable had decided after “a great deal of thought and reflection” that legal professional privilege was “a fundamental human right” and that if it were waived it would “pose a risk of undermining ongoing investigations and legal proceedings”. |
| Family groups reacted with fury at meetings with the IPCC in Warrington last week. Margaret Aspinall, the chair of the Hillsborough family support group, whose 18-year-old son James died at the Sheffield Wednesday ground, said: “These lies by the police had been discredited before, Crompton made an apology in 2012, yet to have them made all over again caused so much more pain and trauma for the families. It should definitely be investigated by the IPCC.” | Family groups reacted with fury at meetings with the IPCC in Warrington last week. Margaret Aspinall, the chair of the Hillsborough family support group, whose 18-year-old son James died at the Sheffield Wednesday ground, said: “These lies by the police had been discredited before, Crompton made an apology in 2012, yet to have them made all over again caused so much more pain and trauma for the families. It should definitely be investigated by the IPCC.” |
| Charlotte Hennessy, who was six when her father, Jimmy Hennessy, 27, died at Hillsborough, refused to meet the IPCC and instead wrote a statement for her solicitor to read out at the meeting, in which she said she had “lost respect for the IPCC and what it stands for”. | Charlotte Hennessy, who was six when her father, Jimmy Hennessy, 27, died at Hillsborough, refused to meet the IPCC and instead wrote a statement for her solicitor to read out at the meeting, in which she said she had “lost respect for the IPCC and what it stands for”. |
| Charlotte Hennessy told the Guardian that she felt “shocked and disgusted” when she learned of the IPCC decision. “It was sheer disbelief,” she said. “I believe it was cruel of David Crompton to make the inquests longer by seeking to blame supporters in the way his lawyers did and it increased the families’ trauma, stress and grief at having to relive it all again for so long.” | Charlotte Hennessy told the Guardian that she felt “shocked and disgusted” when she learned of the IPCC decision. “It was sheer disbelief,” she said. “I believe it was cruel of David Crompton to make the inquests longer by seeking to blame supporters in the way his lawyers did and it increased the families’ trauma, stress and grief at having to relive it all again for so long.” |
| Pete Weatherby QC, who represents Hennessy and 21 other families, pointed the IPCC to South Yorkshire police barristers’ questioning, which included suggesting that Liverpool supporters tended to arrive late to matches without tickets, spat at police at the semi-final, that one tried to bribe his way into the ground and other misbehaviour. | Pete Weatherby QC, who represents Hennessy and 21 other families, pointed the IPCC to South Yorkshire police barristers’ questioning, which included suggesting that Liverpool supporters tended to arrive late to matches without tickets, spat at police at the semi-final, that one tried to bribe his way into the ground and other misbehaviour. |
| Weatherby said the force’s lawyers had “studiously avoided any hint of acceptance of responsibility”, had tried to spread the blame and stayed “uncritically silent” while barristers for former police officers sought to deny responsibility and blame supporters. | Weatherby said the force’s lawyers had “studiously avoided any hint of acceptance of responsibility”, had tried to spread the blame and stayed “uncritically silent” while barristers for former police officers sought to deny responsibility and blame supporters. |
| He also argued that the force’s maintenance of legal professional privilege was irrelevant, because the barristers could be assumed to have been acting on Crompton’s instructions. | He also argued that the force’s maintenance of legal professional privilege was irrelevant, because the barristers could be assumed to have been acting on Crompton’s instructions. |
| Crompton has maintained that the force was entitled at the new inquests to examine all the circumstances that contributed to the disaster and South Yorkshire police’s barrister, Fiona Barton QC, argued the 2012 apology should not be revealed to the jury because it was hearing the case afresh. | Crompton has maintained that the force was entitled at the new inquests to examine all the circumstances that contributed to the disaster and South Yorkshire police’s barrister, Fiona Barton QC, argued the 2012 apology should not be revealed to the jury because it was hearing the case afresh. |
| After the jury’s verdicts, Crompton was suspended by the South Yorkshire police and crime commissioner, Alan Billings, who is now seeking to sack him. Crompton argues that Billings supported his stance at the inquests throughout and is contesting his sacking. | After the jury’s verdicts, Crompton was suspended by the South Yorkshire police and crime commissioner, Alan Billings, who is now seeking to sack him. Crompton argues that Billings supported his stance at the inquests throughout and is contesting his sacking. |
| The IPCC confirmed in a statement that it was “commissioning an external independent review of its decision not to investigate a complaint from Hillsborough families about former SYP chief constable David Crompton”. | The IPCC confirmed in a statement that it was “commissioning an external independent review of its decision not to investigate a complaint from Hillsborough families about former SYP chief constable David Crompton”. |
| The IPCC also said that it has asked for a pre-publication copy of a book about Hillsborough, written by Sir Norman Bettison, whose role as a South Yorkshire police inspector after the disaster is under IPCC investigation. | |
| Bettison later faced protests when he became the chief constable of Merseyside police, and he said then that he had never done anything that ought to give families any concerns. Entitled Hillsborough Untold, the book is being produced by Biteback Publishing, whose managing director is the radio presenter and former Conservative Party politician Iain Dale. The IPCC said it had asked Biteback for a copy, will read it to see if it had any “impact” on the criminal investigation, then decide “what action can be taken”. | |
| News earlier this month that Bettison had written a book prompted consternation among families, with particular concern that he was suggesting he had “untold” information about his role. In evidence given at the inquests, he confirmed that he wrote substantial portions of the South Yorkshire police’s narrative about the disaster sent to the official inquiry by Lord Justice Taylor. | |
| The IPCC said of Bettison’s forthcoming book: “Its contents will be assessed in consultation with the CPS and together we will consider what impact, if any, it has on the criminal investigation and what action can be taken.” |