Maria Eagle MP A Strong Voice in Tough Times
My Initial Thoughts on Bettison’s Book about Hillsborough
Norman Bettison, the former Merseyside Chief Constable, who was a Superintendent in South Yorkshire at the time of the disaster, is set to publish a new book called “Hillsborough Untold”. To say that I am surprised by his decision to write and publish such a book is an understatement.
Norman Bettison, the former Merseyside Chief Constable, who was a Superintendent in South Yorkshire Police at the time of the disaster, is set to publish a new book called “Hillsborough Untold”. To say that I am surprised by his decision to write and publish such a book is an understatement.
In 1998 I named Mr Bettison in the House of Commons as being involved in a black propaganda campaign against Hillsborough victims and their families. You can read what I said at the timehere. My speech was based on my having looked through most of the 12 boxes of police statements and materials from the aftermath of the disaster which were placed in the House of Commons Library following the publication of the Stuart-Smith scrutiny in 1998 on the order of the then Home Secretary (Jack Straw).
Later in 2012 I set out further revelations about his activities following the disaster.You can read what I said about Mr Bettison in Parliament in 2011hereand 2012here.
I am disturbed that he thinks it appropriate to publish a book before the CPS have made decisions about whether they wish to charge anybody with criminal offences arising out of the Hillsborough disaster and the subsequent cover up perpetrated and led by South Yorkshire Police, a force of which Mr Bettison was then a member.
Unfortunately, over the many years since the disaster and the subsequent disgraceful cover up, he has exhibited an unseemly fascination with it and has frequently intervened in a way which has been both self-serving and insensitive to the feelings of the bereaved families, survivors and the interests of justice.
This looks like another such distasteful example.
Read the full Liverpool Echo article here:Liverpool Echo