Labour MP supplied questions to Hillsborough inquiry

THE police watchdog was given questions supplied by a Labour MP to quiz Sir Norman Bettison, the former chief constable, amid concern politicians influenced Hillsborough investigators.

A series of documents are understood to disclose connections between the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and MPS demanding justice for victims of the tragedy.

Sir Norman was investigated by the IPCC – recently renamed the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) – for six years before four charges of misconduct in a public office were dropped against him last month.

IPCC documents passed to Sir Norman’s lawyers are understood to have contributed to the case’s collapse. Sir Norman, a former Merseyside Police and South Yorkshire Police chief constable, had been accused of lying about the “culpability of fans” and his role in the wake of the tragedy in which 96 Liverpool fans died. The documents relate to IPCC meetings with the Hillsborough All Party Parliamentary Group (HAPPG), which took place four times a year between 2013 and 2017. The CPS and families of victims were also present.

Sir Norman was a chief inspector at the time of the tragedy in 1989. He was not on duty but was in the crowd at the FA Cup semi-final. His lawyer claimed there had been “naked political interference” in the inquiry into his role.

In a letter sent on Sept 9 2013 to Mike Benbow, the IPCC investigator, Steve Rotheram, the current Liverpool mayor who was a Labour MP at the time, submitted 16 questions to ask Sir Norman under caution. Mr Rotheram and other MPS had been shown a video Sir Norman had submitted as evidence to the watchdog. Mr Rotheram wrote: “I would be obliged if you are able to seek responses to the queries listed without exposing the fact that parliamentarians have seen the content of his 1989 presentation and wider audience.”

Mr Benbow drafted a reply: “I will ensure the questions are included in any interview plan that relates to Sir Norman.” In an Oct 18 IPCC meeting with HAPPG, Mr Rotheram is minuted as saying: “How soon will Bettison be arrested and charged?” Unable to pin down investigators, he said any delay created a risk “that the IPCC would lose credibility with the families”.

Documents show a training video containing Hillsborough material submitted by Sir Norman was circulated to some MPS.

A senior IPCC communications officer raised concerns about its circulation, saying it should have been kept back as possible evidence. Mr Rotheram said: “My involvement with the Hillsborough Justice Campaign is a matter of public record. I will not comment further as I do not want to jeopardise ... criminal proceedings.”

The IOPC said last night the letter from Mr Benbow to Mr Rotheram was a draft that was never sent. In a subsequent letter, Mr Rotheram was informed that the IOPC could not agree to ask the questions put by him but could be reassured that the “majority” would have been asked anyway.