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Hillsborough comments made by chief constable in email to be investigated | Hillsborough comments made by chief constable in email to be investigated |
(4 months later) | |
Comments about the Hillsborough disaster made by a chief constable in an email will be investigated by another top police officer, a police and crime commissioner (PCC) has confirmed. | Comments about the Hillsborough disaster made by a chief constable in an email will be investigated by another top police officer, a police and crime commissioner (PCC) has confirmed. |
South Yorkshire PCC Shaun Wright said he has received a complaint regarding the content of emails sent by South Yorkshire chief David Crompton. | South Yorkshire PCC Shaun Wright said he has received a complaint regarding the content of emails sent by South Yorkshire chief David Crompton. |
Crompton sent a message to his senior staff last year which appeared to suggest a campaign group representing families of those who died was not telling the full truth about the 1989 tragedy. | Crompton sent a message to his senior staff last year which appeared to suggest a campaign group representing families of those who died was not telling the full truth about the 1989 tragedy. |
The email read: "One thing is certain – the Hillsborough Campaign for Justice will be doing their version … in fact their version of certain events has become 'the truth' even though it isn't!! | The email read: "One thing is certain – the Hillsborough Campaign for Justice will be doing their version … in fact their version of certain events has become 'the truth' even though it isn't!! |
"I just have the feeling that the media 'machine' favours the families and not us, so we need to be a bit more innovative in our response to have a fighting chance otherwise we will just be roadkill." | "I just have the feeling that the media 'machine' favours the families and not us, so we need to be a bit more innovative in our response to have a fighting chance otherwise we will just be roadkill." |
Wright said the chief constable of Cambridgeshire, Simon Parr, will now investigate. | Wright said the chief constable of Cambridgeshire, Simon Parr, will now investigate. |
Crompton said he had thought the matter was "completely closed" after he apologised earlier this year. | Crompton said he had thought the matter was "completely closed" after he apologised earlier this year. |
The PCC said on Friday: "I have today recorded a complaint against the chief constable of South Yorkshire police, David Crompton, in relation to internal emails concerning the Hillsborough tragedy and its aftermath. | The PCC said on Friday: "I have today recorded a complaint against the chief constable of South Yorkshire police, David Crompton, in relation to internal emails concerning the Hillsborough tragedy and its aftermath. |
"The request has been submitted by a firm of solicitors in Liverpool acting on behalf of a number of individuals affected by the event. This is a formal complaint, which must be dealt with in accordance with statutory procedures. | "The request has been submitted by a firm of solicitors in Liverpool acting on behalf of a number of individuals affected by the event. This is a formal complaint, which must be dealt with in accordance with statutory procedures. |
"I have appointed an independent investigating officer, chief constable Simon Parr of Cambridgeshire Constabulary, to investigate the complaint." | "I have appointed an independent investigating officer, chief constable Simon Parr of Cambridgeshire Constabulary, to investigate the complaint." |
But Crompton said: "In February this year I apologised for the wording of an email. | But Crompton said: "In February this year I apologised for the wording of an email. |
"The Independent Police Complaints Commission looked into the matter at the request of the crime commissioner and publicly concluded that no formal disciplinary proceedings were justified. | "The Independent Police Complaints Commission looked into the matter at the request of the crime commissioner and publicly concluded that no formal disciplinary proceedings were justified. |
"Nothing has changed since then. No new material is available now which was not available in February. | "Nothing has changed since then. No new material is available now which was not available in February. |
"I had understood the matter to be completely closed but will co-operate fully with any investigation if requested to do so. | "I had understood the matter to be completely closed but will co-operate fully with any investigation if requested to do so. |
"At this stage it would be inappropriate to comment any further." | "At this stage it would be inappropriate to comment any further." |
The internal email, which came to light following a Freedom of Information request, was sent as part of South Yorkshire police's preparations for the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report last year. | The internal email, which came to light following a Freedom of Information request, was sent as part of South Yorkshire police's preparations for the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report last year. |
It discussed how the force could use its website to respond to the findings of the panel. | It discussed how the force could use its website to respond to the findings of the panel. |
When the report was published, it provoked widespread condemnation of the force's response to the disaster at Sheffield Wednesday's ground in April 1989, which left 96 Liverpool fans dead. | When the report was published, it provoked widespread condemnation of the force's response to the disaster at Sheffield Wednesday's ground in April 1989, which left 96 Liverpool fans dead. |
It revealed how dozens of police statements had been altered to portray police in a better light. | It revealed how dozens of police statements had been altered to portray police in a better light. |
South Yorkshire police's response to the tragedy is currently subject to a huge inquiry by the IPCC. | South Yorkshire police's response to the tragedy is currently subject to a huge inquiry by the IPCC. |
In February, the IPCC commissioner, Nicholas Long, said the majority of the emails and documents he considered raised no issues. | In February, the IPCC commissioner, Nicholas Long, said the majority of the emails and documents he considered raised no issues. |
But he said one email from the chief constable "caused me concern". | But he said one email from the chief constable "caused me concern". |
He said: "I consider that this is at best ill-judged, and at worst offensive and upsetting." | He said: "I consider that this is at best ill-judged, and at worst offensive and upsetting." |
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