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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Sir Norman Bettison in probe over Stephen Lawrence family claims | Sir Norman Bettison in probe over Stephen Lawrence family claims |
| (about 3 hours 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. | 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 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. | The referral was made by West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson. |
| He said he had "significant concerns". | 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. | "I have become aware of three documents following a thorough search requested by West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Mark Gilmore," he said. |
| 'Face the consequences' | |
| "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. | "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. | "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." | "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". | Mr Burns-Williamson said the matter needed to be "thoroughly investigated" and, if wrongdoing was found, "those responsible must face the consequences". |
| A spokesman for the IPCC confirmed it had received the referral and said it would now assess the information before making a decision on whether to begin an investigation. | |
| The Macpherson Inquiry was set up in 1998 to look at into the Metropolitan Police's investigation of the murder of 18-year-old Stephen Lawrence in Eltham, south London, in April 1993. | The Macpherson Inquiry was set up in 1998 to look at into the Metropolitan Police's investigation of the murder of 18-year-old Stephen Lawrence in Eltham, south London, in April 1993. |
| It led to accusations of institutional racism being levelled at the force and uncovered failings in how the crime was investigated. | It led to accusations of institutional racism being levelled at the force and uncovered failings in how the crime was investigated. |
| Hearings were held around the country where local race relations organisations, victim support groups, probation services and police gave evidence on problems with race crime and how they were tackled. | Hearings were held around the country where local race relations organisations, victim support groups, probation services and police gave evidence on problems with race crime and how they were tackled. |
| West Yorkshire Police said the three documents it had discovered identified that a man, due to give evidence to the inquiry when it sat in Bradford, was the subject of a police report. | West Yorkshire Police said the three documents it had discovered identified that a man, due to give evidence to the inquiry when it sat in Bradford, was the subject of a police report. |
| 'Cooperate fully' | |
| It said the documents had given rise to concerns about the "motivation for the report" and its "appropriateness". | It said the documents had given rise to concerns about the "motivation for the report" and its "appropriateness". |
| Mr Gilmore, who took over from Sir Norman in April after his predecessor had resigned six months earlier, said: "West Yorkshire Police will cooperate fully with the IPCC and assist in any way we can to get to the truth." | Mr Gilmore, who took over from Sir Norman in April after his predecessor had resigned six months earlier, said: "West Yorkshire Police will cooperate fully with the IPCC and assist in any way we can to get to the truth." |
| At the time Sir Norman stepped down he was the subject of two IPCC investigations related to the Hillsborough tragedy, when 96 football fans died. | |
| At the time of the disaster on 15 April 1989, he was a South Yorkshire Police inspector who attended the match as a spectator and later took part in an internal inquiry. | |
| It is alleged he provided misleading information to the inquiry. | |
| Sir Norman was also under investigation over claims he "attempted to influence the decision-making process of the West Yorkshire Police Authority" in connection with their decision to refer the matter to the IPCC. | |
| In March the IPCC said, in relation to the second allegation, Sir Norman would have had a "case to answer for gross misconduct" if he was a serving officer. |