Police chief suspended over Hillsborough lies
THE chief constable of South Yorkshire Police was suspended yesterday over his force’s lies that drunk fans caused the Hillsborough disaster.
David Crompton was relieved of his duties after spending £24 million funding officers’ legal defences during the two-year inquest which this week returned unlawful killing verdicts.
Dr Alan Billings, the force’s police and crime commissioner, said he had no choice after the “erosion of public trust and confidence” caused by Tuesday’s damning conclusions by a jury.
Amid mounting anger at police yesterday, Theresa May, the Home Secretary, agreed to discuss changing current legislation to make officers liable to disciplinary action for life.
Andy Burnham, the Labour MP, called on Mrs May to make the law retrospective to apply to the actions of the officers involved in the cover-up in Sheffield.
It is understood that up to 50 officers are being investigated by the ongoing police inquiry into the 1989 disaster, but many of those could avoid prosecution.
Mr Crompton was suspended
within an hour of Mr Burnham calling on Mrs May to sack him for letting officers “throw disgusting slurs around”.
His leadership has previously been drawn into question over the raid on Sir Cliff Richard’s house in 2014 and the Rotherham child abuse scandal.
The police chief has previously given notice of retirement in November, sparking speculation last night that he could leave before the disciplinary process is complete. However, families of the victims last night welcomed the suspension. Law firm Broudie Jackson Canter, which represented several families at the inquest, said: “We hope and expect that his conduct will be subject to the rigorous and impartial scrutiny which has so long been denied to the families.”
Dr Billings, who next week stands for re-election, said: “I have been left with no choice other than to suspend David from his duties as chief constable of South Yorkshire Police. I have reached this decision with a heart following discussions David.”
Dr Billings, who attended the game in which 96 Liverpool supporters died in 1989, previously said of Tuesday’s verdicts: “South Yorkshire Police failed the 96 families.”
Earlier, Mrs May paid tribute to the “extraordinary dignity and determination” of the 27-year campaign as she warned again that those behind the cover-up could face charges. “I am also clear that this raises significant issues for the way that the state and its agencies deal with disasters,” she said.
Mr Burnham had described Mr Crompton’s position as “untenable” as he urged Mrs May to ensure there would be “no holding back” on pursuing prosecutions.
Responding to Mr Burnham’s calls for a “Hillsborough clause” to stop police officers avoiding disciplinary procedures by retiring, Mrs May said the Government was already bringing for- ward changes but was happy to meet Labour to discuss them further.
South Yorkshire Police has so far paid out more than £24 million, including £22.5 million to lawyers representing former officers and £1.6 million on the force’s own legal costs for representation at the hearings in Warrington.
The Times admitted the paper had made a “mistake” by failing to mention the inquest verdict on its first edition front page. “We made a mistake and we fixed it for the second edition,” it said.