Enqiry announced. https://www.theguardian.com/politic...quiry-40-years-after-clashes-at-miners-strike
Northumberland Police have destroyed evidence relating to Orgreave. I suspect the Enquiry will tell us nothing we don't already know and no prosecutions will result from the findings of the investigation.
That will be well looked into and Northumbria won’t be the only force that had damning evidence. I’m sceptical myself but the drip drip of truth from the time of the picket to now has only ever gone in one direction. We aren’t going to be shocked at what they officially find - in these parts - but nationally some might see something they didn’t before. I note with interest the headline (and only headline as the rest is behind a paywall I won’t pay) that the Telegraph’s running of the story had a different spin, putting things in inverted commas implying what you’d expect - that headline says retired police officers will be forced to give evidence for the “framing” - their inverted commas, not mine, of miners.
Police withholding information in South Yorkshire. Wonder why ?. Cant hide anything anymore. Everyone around here knows it was a set up. Police everywhere around Nottingham, turning pickets around and stopping them from picketing the Notts miners. Orgreave they were helping them to find the right spot to park. This way lads ,then follow the road down to the big field where were going to smash your heads in. Fair play to all the folk who have campaigned for this, I've tried to put it all behind me as it makes me angry. History as to be put right ,and the truth and justice campaign,as the chance now to set the record straight. Don't get me wrong there were some wrongs from some pickets ,but they were dressed in trainers and t shirts. The police however in full riot gear ,banging their shields with truncheons like in the movie Zulu. How any of the police were not brought to task is unreal. And some miners facing charges of Affray,which carries a life sentence. Statements from police changed. Absolutely Sh#t show all round. Wonder if it comes to light about armed forces with no numbers on their uniforms .
Battle of Orgreave. Type this into You tube . Quite a few BFC fans played extras in this. Documentary put together by Artangel from London. Guy called Jeremy Deller, put this together. Some of us got invites to watch it being screened in the London film festival in Leicester Square. I met the late Tony Benn that evening. Good insight for those that dont have a clue what Orgreave was about. We had a good laugh that weekend filming it,and none of us got arrested either.
Do you think that what happened at orgreave set a precedent for police behaviour at hillsbrough in statements etc? As if they were untouchable as opposed to accountable (I’ll put allegedly subject to findings! Although I’ve seen a few films on it )
It will be interesting to see if some of those police officers lie under oath again. I don't recall any of them being charged with perjury after the original riot trial.
The trouble with that is that such prosecutions would switch the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt from the prosecution (prosecuting on behalf of the police/the general public) to the prosecution (prosecuting on behalf of the miners/the general public). I doubt such prosecutions would be successful, especially after this length of time.
Well if this morning's LBC report is any to go by, I'll not hold my breath waiting for any kind of factual outcome. In a very short piece they referred to "the alleged miners strike" and described picketing outside the colliery, when in fact it was the coking plant. Lazy reporting, and I sincerely hope that contributors to the enquiry put in a bit more effort or the whole thing will be a waste of time.
I'm not suggesting that the police officers that lied in 1985 should be prosecuted now. I was just wondering that if any of them lie to the inquiry, will they be charged in relation to that. In the same way that I wonder if Matt Hancock will be charged for provably lying to the COVID enquiry a month or two back....
I suppose that would turn on whether the inquiry will take evidence on oath. The Guardian describes what is being set up as a statutory inquiry. However, it is being chaired by the Bishop of Sheffield, rather than a judge. The Hillsborough Independent Panel (also chaired by a bishop) did not take evidence on oath. So it will probably turn on the inquiry's terms of reference. It raises some interesting legal questions.
P.S. The reports say that the inquiry 'will have powers to compel people to provide information'. But that doesn't appear to include a power to provide evidence on oath.
Genuine question what do you think will be achieved from this enquiry? The event happened over 40 years ago many of the people who should have been brought to justice will probably be dead now. Seems about 35 years too late. And will cost a few quid.
Not sure. It might bring some comfort to the many people who were just ordinary blokes fighting for their future but who were demonised and physically attacked by a brutal establishment.
It was 40 years ago. Most of the senior police officers and politicians responsible for Orgreave decisions and cover-ups are now propping up daisies and the rest are in their 80s and 90s.
