Hillsborough police chief denied public funds for legal costs
A FORMER senior police officer facing charges in connection with the Hillsborough disaster will not receive public funding to pay his legal costs.
South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Alan Billings has decided to refuse an application for funding from David Duckenfield, the former chief superintendent in charge of policing on the day of the tragedy in 1989, which claimed 96 lives.
The PCC published a formal decision notice outlining his reasons last night which referred to the potential financial burden on the force. The decision had to take into account an official Home Office Circular outlining the circumstances in which officers can receive legal funding which notes that PCCs should consider any impact on resources.
The PCC’s decision notice said he had “regard to the fact that this retired officer has already received significant financial support, both in relation to defending the private prosecution in 2000 and in relation to the legal costs he incurred through participation at the Hillsborough Inquests, which together has amounted to approximately £7.6m”.
The CPS has authorised charges of manslaughter by gross negligence against Mr Duckenfield but first has to remove a stay on proceedings imposed in 2000 at the end of the previous private prosecution brought by families of those who died.