Bettison has 'case to answer'

The chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group has reacted to the IPCC's finding that former West Yorkshire police chief Sir Norman Bettison "has a case to answer" for his actions in the wake of the Hillsborough report.

Margaret Aspinall, who lost her 18-year-old son, James, in the disaster, said it was "another step on the road to justice" for the 96 victims.

"In the IPCC's own words, this was gross misconduct and, in my mind, that is a very serious offence and the fact that he resigned should not mean that this report is the end of it"

"We want to see him stripped of his honours - his knighthood and his Honorary Fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University.

"I believe he resigned to protect his pension and his behaviour has shown he is not deserving of that pension."

Sir Norman Bettison's solicitor has released a statement on behalf of his client after an IPCC report said he "have a case to answer" over his dealings with his police authority, in the wake of the Hillsborough report.

Former West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison was a chief inspector with South Yorkshire Police at the time of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

He attended the match at Sheffield Wednesday's ground as a spectator but, after the tragedy, he was involved in the subsequent force investigation.

His involvement in that inquiry has provoked waves of allegations and criticism from the families of those who died and has dogged his career, which included a stint as the chief constable of Merseyside.

The Hillsborough Independent Panel report, revealed numerous failings during and in the aftermath of the 1989 disaster.

It also highlighted police attempts to shift blame for the tragedy to the victims.

Sir Norman was referred to the IPCC over claims that he gave misleading information after the tragedy - and that he tried to influence West Yorkshire Police Authority's decision-making process in relation to the referral.

The former chief, who has always denied any wrongdoing, resigned from his post last year, saying the controversy had become a "distraction to policing in West Yorkshire"

In a statement issued through the police authority at the time, Sir Norman said he had never blamed the fans for the tragedy.

He also said the police authority and some of the candidates in the forthcoming Police and Crime Commissioner elections made it clear that they wanted him to go.

"It was the IPCC's view at the start of the investigation, as it was the view of his Police Authority, that Sir Norman's actions, if proven, fell so far short of what is expected of a Chief Constable that dismissal would be justified.

"The evidence uncovered during the investigation supports that view".

The chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Federation, Jon Christopher, told Calendar:

"Clearly Sir Norman is no longer a serving officer. It is now open to the public debate to see what, if anything, can be done against him if that's the will of the public."

Former West Yorkshire Police chief constable Sir Norman Bettison would "have a case to answer for gross misconduct" over his dealings with his police authority following the publication of a damning report on the Hillsborough disaster, according to the police watchdog.

The investigation focused on contact between Sir Norman, Fraser Sampson (the Chief Executive of WYPA) and Mark Burns-Williamson (Chair of WYPA).

The IPCC concluded Sir Norman had a case to answer for discreditable conduct and abuse of authority, breaches which, if proven in a disciplinary hearing, would amount to gross misconduct as they would justify dismissal.

However, as Sir Norman left the police service in October 2012 he cannot face a disciplinary hearing in which the evidence could be tested. Instead the IPCC is publishing its findings for the public to judge.

In September, Sir Norman Bettison told ITV News' UK Editor Lucy Manning that "there's nothing I'm ashamed of" in relation to Hillsborough.