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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Sir Norman Bettison resigns over Hillsborough inquiry | Sir Norman Bettison resigns over Hillsborough inquiry |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sir Norman Bettison has resigned as chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, saying an inquiry into his role after the Hillsborough tragedy was "a distraction" to the force. | Sir Norman Bettison has resigned as chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, saying an inquiry into his role after the Hillsborough tragedy was "a distraction" to the force. |
| At the time of the disaster he was a South Yorkshire Police inspector who attended the match as a spectator and later took part in an internal inquiry. | At the time of the disaster he was a South Yorkshire Police inspector who attended the match as a spectator and later took part in an internal inquiry. |
| Sir Norman said questions over his role had become a "distraction to policing". | Sir Norman said questions over his role had become a "distraction to policing". |
| He had been due to retire in March but had faced calls for him to go early. | He had been due to retire in March but had faced calls for him to go early. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which is undertaking two investigations into Sir Norman, issued a statement saying: "Retirement or resignation does not prevent criminal prosecution should the investigation identify criminal offences, including misconduct in a public office." | |
| Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Families Support Group, said: "I'm absolutely delighted he's gone but as far as I am concerned he should have been sacked. | Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Families Support Group, said: "I'm absolutely delighted he's gone but as far as I am concerned he should have been sacked. |
| "I would now like to know what payments and pension he's going to get. | "I would now like to know what payments and pension he's going to get. |
| "Any financial benefits should be frozen until the outcome of the investigation into the cover-up." | "Any financial benefits should be frozen until the outcome of the investigation into the cover-up." |
| West Yorkshire Police Authority said media attention and the investigations by the IPCC were "proving to be a huge distraction for the force". | |
| Statements altered | Statements altered |
| Sir Norman has been referred to the IPCC over allegations he provided misleading information after the disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans died. | Sir Norman has been referred to the IPCC over allegations he provided misleading information after the disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans died. |
| Last month, a report by the Independent Hillsborough Panel revealed 164 police statements by South Yorkshire Police were altered - 116 of them to remove or change negative comments about the policing of the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Sheffield stadium. | Last month, a report by the Independent Hillsborough Panel revealed 164 police statements by South Yorkshire Police were altered - 116 of them to remove or change negative comments about the policing of the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Sheffield stadium. |
| It revealed a cover-up took place to shift the blame on to the victims, and that 41 of the 96 who died could have potentially been saved if they had received treatment earlier. | It revealed a cover-up took place to shift the blame on to the victims, and that 41 of the 96 who died could have potentially been saved if they had received treatment earlier. |
| In a statement last month, Sir Norman said: "Fans' behaviour, to the extent that it was relevant at all, made the job of the police, in the crush outside Leppings Lane turnstiles, harder than it needed to be." | In a statement last month, Sir Norman said: "Fans' behaviour, to the extent that it was relevant at all, made the job of the police, in the crush outside Leppings Lane turnstiles, harder than it needed to be." |
| He apologised a day later saying Liverpool fans were "in no way to blame" for the disaster and that he was sorry if he had "caused any further upset". | He apologised a day later saying Liverpool fans were "in no way to blame" for the disaster and that he was sorry if he had "caused any further upset". |
| Sir Norman's resignation comes after candidates bidding to become West Yorkshire's police and crime commissioner called for him to stand down now rather than retire in March as planned. | Sir Norman's resignation comes after candidates bidding to become West Yorkshire's police and crime commissioner called for him to stand down now rather than retire in March as planned. |
| In a statement, he said: "The police authority, and some of the candidates in the forthcoming PCC elections, have made it clear that they wish me to go sooner. | In a statement, he said: "The police authority, and some of the candidates in the forthcoming PCC elections, have made it clear that they wish me to go sooner. |
| 'Deep concerns' | 'Deep concerns' |
| "I do so, not because of any allegations about the past, but because I share the view that this has become a distraction to policing in West Yorkshire now and in the future." | "I do so, not because of any allegations about the past, but because I share the view that this has become a distraction to policing in West Yorkshire now and in the future." |
| The police authority said Deputy Chief Constable John Parkinson would take up the role of acting chief constable. | The police authority said Deputy Chief Constable John Parkinson would take up the role of acting chief constable. |
| A Home Office spokesperson said Sir Norman's resignation was "a matter for the police authority". | A Home Office spokesperson said Sir Norman's resignation was "a matter for the police authority". |
| Policing minister Damian Green said it was important that the West Yorkshire force was able to get on with the job of policing. | Policing minister Damian Green said it was important that the West Yorkshire force was able to get on with the job of policing. |
| "If the inevitable deep concerns surrounding all of this - which, clearly, would be very, very understandable - were getting in the way of doing that job, then it is clearly sensible to allow West Yorkshire Police to get on with their important work." | "If the inevitable deep concerns surrounding all of this - which, clearly, would be very, very understandable - were getting in the way of doing that job, then it is clearly sensible to allow West Yorkshire Police to get on with their important work." |