Bettison’s pension is £83,000 a year

SIR Norman Bettison will receive an £83,000-a-year pension unless he is convicted of a Hillsborough cover-up, Merseyside Police Authority has claimed.

Families of the 96 Liverpool football fans who died in the 1989 tragedy had called for payments to be frozen during an IPCC probe into claims he misled previous inquiries.

Sir Norman, who quit this week as chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, was an inspector in South Yorkshire at the time of the tragedy.

The Mersey side authority said the payments, from a central taxpayers’ pot, will come into effect now he has resigned but the pension can be forfeited if he is convicted of a criminal offence.

Permission from the Home Secretary would be required in this case, it is understood.

Merseyside is responsible for Sir Norman’s pension payments since he retired as chief constable from that force in 2005, before returning to take up his post in West Yorkshire.

Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Families’ Support Group, said: “I feel angry, and so do many others, that he is still getting well paid even though he ’s under investigation.

“We will wait to see what the IPCC comes out with and if there is any suggestion of wrong-doing, especially perverting the course of justice.”

Sir Norman is facing an IPCC probe into claims he helped “concoct” a version of events at Hillsborough. He has denied the claims.

Meanwhile, charity single to raise money for Hillsborough families will feature stars such as Robbie Williams, Beverley Knight and The Clash’s Mick Jones.

The release will rework The Hollies’ hit, He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother and be released in time for Christmas.