This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23171119
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Sir Norman Bettison in probe over Stephen Lawrence family claims | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ex-police chief Sir Norman Bettison has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission over fears officers tried to discredit the family of Stephen Lawrence. | |
| The police watchdog has been asked to investigate concerns he tried to influence the way a key witness gave evidence to the Macpherson Inquiry. | |
| The referral was made by West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson. | |
| He said he had "significant concerns". | |
| "I have become aware of three documents following a thorough search requested by West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Mark Gilmore," he said. | |
| "These documents raise significant concerns over the role of Sir Norman Bettison at the time he was Assistant Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police in 1998 in commissioning a report to be prepared in the respect of a key witness appearing before the Macpherson Inquiry. | |
| "This may suggest an attempt to intervene in the course of a public inquiry and influence the manner in which the testimony of a witness, who was due to present evidence before it, was received. | |
| "I have today referred this to the Independent Police Complaints Commission." | |
| Mr Burns-Williamson said the matter needed to be "thoroughly investigated" and, if wrongdoing was found, "those responsible must face the consequences". |