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 http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/sep/14/sir-norman-bettison-hillsborough-comments
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Police chief Norman Bettison fights for job after Hillsborough comments | Police chief Norman Bettison fights for job after Hillsborough comments |
| (7 months later) | |
| The senior police officer under pressure to resign over his role in the Hillsborough operation was fighting to hold on to his job on Friday, apologising for further upsetting fans in comments he made this week. | The senior police officer under pressure to resign over his role in the Hillsborough operation was fighting to hold on to his job on Friday, apologising for further upsetting fans in comments he made this week. |
| Sir Norman Bettison, chief constable of West Yorkshire, who is resisting calls from the families of the dead and some MPs for him to quit, issued his second statement in 48 hours on the affair after the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, said his words flew in the face of the damning conclusions of the Hillsborough independent panel. | Sir Norman Bettison, chief constable of West Yorkshire, who is resisting calls from the families of the dead and some MPs for him to quit, issued his second statement in 48 hours on the affair after the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, said his words flew in the face of the damning conclusions of the Hillsborough independent panel. |
| Within hours of the Liberal Democrat leader's intervention, Bettison issued a statement apologising if the families of the 96 who died had been upset by his remark that "fans' behaviour … made the job of the police in the crush outside Leppings Lane turnstiles harder than it needed to be". | Within hours of the Liberal Democrat leader's intervention, Bettison issued a statement apologising if the families of the 96 who died had been upset by his remark that "fans' behaviour … made the job of the police in the crush outside Leppings Lane turnstiles harder than it needed to be". |
| The words were included in a statement – issued after the report was published this week – in which he made clear he was staying in his post despite the independent panel report revealing more details about his key role in a South Yorkshire police internal review team condemned as a "black propaganda" unit. | The words were included in a statement – issued after the report was published this week – in which he made clear he was staying in his post despite the independent panel report revealing more details about his key role in a South Yorkshire police internal review team condemned as a "black propaganda" unit. |
| As his employers, the West Yorkshire police authority, began an investigation into the matters the report raised about his role, the storm grew. Asked about Bettison's position, Clegg said: "His words were ill-judged. That is obvious. After a report like that, to suggest the fans were an impediment to the police operation when the report revealed the truth that the burden of responsibility lay with the police and other emergency agencies was insensitive and ill-judged. | As his employers, the West Yorkshire police authority, began an investigation into the matters the report raised about his role, the storm grew. Asked about Bettison's position, Clegg said: "His words were ill-judged. That is obvious. After a report like that, to suggest the fans were an impediment to the police operation when the report revealed the truth that the burden of responsibility lay with the police and other emergency agencies was insensitive and ill-judged. |
| "He will need to react pretty clearly to clarify what he meant. It flies in the face of the basic thrust of the report." | "He will need to react pretty clearly to clarify what he meant. It flies in the face of the basic thrust of the report." |
| Within hours, Bettison apologised. "Let me speak very clearly," he said. "The fans of Liverpool football club were in no way to blame for the disaster. | Within hours, Bettison apologised. "Let me speak very clearly," he said. "The fans of Liverpool football club were in no way to blame for the disaster. |
| "I formed this clear view on hearing all the evidence that was presented at the Taylor inquiry. | "I formed this clear view on hearing all the evidence that was presented at the Taylor inquiry. |
| "The evidence was overwhelming. The police failed to control the situation, which ultimately led to the tragic deaths of 96 entirely innocent people. I can be no plainer than that and I am sorry if my earlier statement, intended to convey the same message, has caused any further upset. | "The evidence was overwhelming. The police failed to control the situation, which ultimately led to the tragic deaths of 96 entirely innocent people. I can be no plainer than that and I am sorry if my earlier statement, intended to convey the same message, has caused any further upset. |
| "My role was never to besmirch the fans. I did not do that. I am deeply sorry that impression and slight has lingered for 23 years." | "My role was never to besmirch the fans. I did not do that. I am deeply sorry that impression and slight has lingered for 23 years." |
| The Hillsborough independent panel – which had unprecedented access to 450,000 documents – uncovered the true scale of the South Yorkshire police cover-up, which began in the hours after the fans were crushed to death at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989. | The Hillsborough independent panel – which had unprecedented access to 450,000 documents – uncovered the true scale of the South Yorkshire police cover-up, which began in the hours after the fans were crushed to death at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989. |
| Fresh evidence in the panel report showed 164 police statements were doctored, victims were tested for blood alcohol levels and checks were carried out on the police national computer to access criminal records in order "to impugn the reputation of the deceased". | Fresh evidence in the panel report showed 164 police statements were doctored, victims were tested for blood alcohol levels and checks were carried out on the police national computer to access criminal records in order "to impugn the reputation of the deceased". |
| Criminal charges may now be laid against serving and former officers after South Yorkshire police set in motion a referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). | Criminal charges may now be laid against serving and former officers after South Yorkshire police set in motion a referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). |
| The force said they were reviewing matters raised in the panel's report "with a view to making a referral" to the IPCC. Any referral requires them to identify officers and any offences they may have committed. Any referral would have to name officers and alleged offences – either criminal or disciplinary. | The force said they were reviewing matters raised in the panel's report "with a view to making a referral" to the IPCC. Any referral requires them to identify officers and any offences they may have committed. Any referral would have to name officers and alleged offences – either criminal or disciplinary. |
| Officers and former officers could be investigated for perverting the course of justice by doctoring statements, misconduct in public office and manslaughter. | Officers and former officers could be investigated for perverting the course of justice by doctoring statements, misconduct in public office and manslaughter. |
| The current South Yorkshire chief constable has said there are 195 officers who were involved in the Hillsborough operation who are still serving. | The current South Yorkshire chief constable has said there are 195 officers who were involved in the Hillsborough operation who are still serving. |
| But there was anger and concern growing among many of those officers on Friday. | But there was anger and concern growing among many of those officers on Friday. |
| Several serving and former officers telephoned the police federation expressing concern that they might be targeted unfairly in any investigation. | Several serving and former officers telephoned the police federation expressing concern that they might be targeted unfairly in any investigation. |
| Many, it is understood, said the dramatic revelations of the Hillsborough report had led to the trauma they suffered on the day resurfacing. Others expressed concern that they would become scapegoats. | Many, it is understood, said the dramatic revelations of the Hillsborough report had led to the trauma they suffered on the day resurfacing. Others expressed concern that they would become scapegoats. |
| Neil Bowles, chairman of the South Yorkshire police federation – who was a serving officer in the force at the time of Hillsborough – said: "The calamitous conclusions of the panel's report have only made the morale of officers which was already at an all-time low … worse. Every officer within South Yorkshire police then and since will be blamed for the sins of the past." | Neil Bowles, chairman of the South Yorkshire police federation – who was a serving officer in the force at the time of Hillsborough – said: "The calamitous conclusions of the panel's report have only made the morale of officers which was already at an all-time low … worse. Every officer within South Yorkshire police then and since will be blamed for the sins of the past." |
| Bowles himself was not on duty at the stadium on the day – but worked as a mortuary officer in the temporary facility for the bodies the following day. "I worked for 14 hours there, and the feelings I had then have all returned now," he said. | Bowles himself was not on duty at the stadium on the day – but worked as a mortuary officer in the temporary facility for the bodies the following day. "I worked for 14 hours there, and the feelings I had then have all returned now," he said. |
| guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am |