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-merseyside-31802716
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Hillsborough inquests: David Duckenfield 'not best man for the job' | Hillsborough inquests: David Duckenfield 'not best man for the job' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The match commander at Hillsborough has told a jury he "was probably not the best man for the job on the day". | The match commander at Hillsborough has told a jury he "was probably not the best man for the job on the day". |
| Former Ch Supt David Duckenfield was in charge of policing at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium when 96 Liverpool fans were fatally crushed in 1989. | Former Ch Supt David Duckenfield was in charge of policing at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium when 96 Liverpool fans were fatally crushed in 1989. |
| The new inquests have also heard he had had "no recent experience" of policing at the ground before the disaster. | |
| Mr Duckenfield, now 70, said, with the benefit of hindsight, it was a "serious mistake" to take the commander role. | Mr Duckenfield, now 70, said, with the benefit of hindsight, it was a "serious mistake" to take the commander role. |
| 'Limited' experience | 'Limited' experience |
| When the disaster happened, Mr Duckenfield had one season's experience at Hillsborough as a chief inspector, the jury heard. | When the disaster happened, Mr Duckenfield had one season's experience at Hillsborough as a chief inspector, the jury heard. |
| Previously, the court heard about 2,000 fans entered through an exit gate at the Leppings Lane end of the stadium after Mr Duckenfield gave the order to open it. | Previously, the court heard about 2,000 fans entered through an exit gate at the Leppings Lane end of the stadium after Mr Duckenfield gave the order to open it. |
| Many of them ended up in the central terrace pens where the disaster unfolded. | Many of them ended up in the central terrace pens where the disaster unfolded. |
| Giving evidence for the first time at the new inquests, Mr Duckenfield, who first visited the ground two weeks before the match, said he had had "no anxiety or hesitation" about taking command. | |
| But, although "delighted at the promotion", he later came to think he "probably was not the best man for the job on the day". | |
| Mr Duckenfield, dressed in a dark grey suit and purple tie, replied: "With hindsight, I should have thought about my limited knowledge of the role of a commander in a major event, that was an all-ticket, sell-out, when I had not been responsible, or in that responsible position previously." | Mr Duckenfield, dressed in a dark grey suit and purple tie, replied: "With hindsight, I should have thought about my limited knowledge of the role of a commander in a major event, that was an all-ticket, sell-out, when I had not been responsible, or in that responsible position previously." |
| But at the time he was confident he was able to do it, and was assured he had an experienced team around him. | But at the time he was confident he was able to do it, and was assured he had an experienced team around him. |
| "I did know what the job involved, but no-one, including me, knew what might evolve on the day and what difficulties we may face," he explained. | |
| During further questioning, Mr Duckenfield also conceded: | |
| Mr Duckenfield told the jury he was adamant his predecessor, Ch Supt Brian Mole, did not offer to help him in his new role, as had been claimed earlier in the inquests. | Mr Duckenfield told the jury he was adamant his predecessor, Ch Supt Brian Mole, did not offer to help him in his new role, as had been claimed earlier in the inquests. |
| He described how he was expecting a "full-day" meeting with Mr Mole, including introductions to Sheffield Wednesday staff as he prepared to take over. | He described how he was expecting a "full-day" meeting with Mr Mole, including introductions to Sheffield Wednesday staff as he prepared to take over. |
| But he stated: "Sadly for whatever reason, that didn't take place. | But he stated: "Sadly for whatever reason, that didn't take place. |
| "I went to see Mr Mole, expecting to have a whole day with him and he seemed, shall we say, in my view disappointed to be moving, wanting to clear his desk, jealously guarding his relationship, I thought, with Sheffield Wednesday, and offered me little or no advice." | "I went to see Mr Mole, expecting to have a whole day with him and he seemed, shall we say, in my view disappointed to be moving, wanting to clear his desk, jealously guarding his relationship, I thought, with Sheffield Wednesday, and offered me little or no advice." |
| 'Ground was safe' | 'Ground was safe' |
| Mr Duckenfield said he was not told about a previous crush at Hillsborough during the 1981 FA Cup semi-final between Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers. | Mr Duckenfield said he was not told about a previous crush at Hillsborough during the 1981 FA Cup semi-final between Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers. |
| Had he known about what had happened at that game, he said more attention could have been paid to the Leppings Lane terraces. | Had he known about what had happened at that game, he said more attention could have been paid to the Leppings Lane terraces. |
| He said action could have been taken to "monitor very closely the pens and the influx of supporters to those pens." | He said action could have been taken to "monitor very closely the pens and the influx of supporters to those pens." |
| Mr Duckenfield told the jury: "Prior to the game, every piece of information I received was 'the ground's safe, the Operational Order caters for our needs, the staff are efficient, you have no concerns, whatsoever'. Because of that, I didn't go searching for something because I didn't know it existed." | Mr Duckenfield told the jury: "Prior to the game, every piece of information I received was 'the ground's safe, the Operational Order caters for our needs, the staff are efficient, you have no concerns, whatsoever'. Because of that, I didn't go searching for something because I didn't know it existed." |
| Earlier in the inquests, former Supt Roger Marshall told the jury he may have mentioned the 1981 crush to Mr Duckenfield. | |
| But Mr Duckenfield denied this, adding: "If he had brought it to my attention prior to the match, I'm sure I would have focused on that and taken the necessary action." | But Mr Duckenfield denied this, adding: "If he had brought it to my attention prior to the match, I'm sure I would have focused on that and taken the necessary action." |
| He confirmed to the jury he was familiar with the Green Guide - the government-issued sports ground safety manual. | He confirmed to the jury he was familiar with the Green Guide - the government-issued sports ground safety manual. |
| Mr Duckenfield said he "had knowledge" of South Yorkshire Police's major incident plan but not the codeword to initiate it. | Mr Duckenfield said he "had knowledge" of South Yorkshire Police's major incident plan but not the codeword to initiate it. |
| "My knowledge of the codeword - well, I didn't know the name and I'm surprised if any of my colleagues did." | "My knowledge of the codeword - well, I didn't know the name and I'm surprised if any of my colleagues did." |
| He added: "From my point of view, and I'm not being dismissive of the document, the better way, and it's just my way, is: 'this is a major incident' full stop, which means the same and it's better in my view." | He added: "From my point of view, and I'm not being dismissive of the document, the better way, and it's just my way, is: 'this is a major incident' full stop, which means the same and it's better in my view." |
| The hearing, being held in Warrington, Cheshire, continues. | The hearing, being held in Warrington, Cheshire, continues. |
| Who were the 96 victims? | Who were the 96 victims? |
| BBC News: Profiles of all those who died | BBC News: Profiles of all those who died |