CPS drops charges against former chief constable

The former Merseyside and West Yorkshire Police chief constable was charged with four counts of misconduct in public office over allegations he told lies about his involvement in the 1989 tragedy.  

Sir Norman Bettison, who was a South Yorkshire chief inspector at the time of the disaster, applied to have the charges dismissed prior to a hearing that was to be held today (August 21) at Preston Crown Court. 

However, the CPS announced that after a review of the evidence “there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction”.  

It said the decision comes as a result of changes in the evidence of two witnesses and the death of a third witness. 

Ninety-six football fans, one as young as ten-years-old, were killed when Liverpool fans were crushed in the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday’s stadium. 

Sir Norman was forced to retire as West Yorkshire Police chief constable in 2012 after he was alleged to have attempted to influence a meeting of the West Yorkshire Police Authority, which was due to discuss a statement he made about the disaster. 

South Yorkshire Police later referred Sir Norman to the Independent Police Complaints Commission for possible misconduct over allegations he smeared the football fans to deflect blame from the police force. He denies ever doing so. 

Sir Norman said: “Such a devastating loss is deserving of all our sympathies and has always included mine. Nothing in my experience of the last six years has done anything to diminish that sympathy.  

“My involvement in Hillsborough has often been misrepresented, even in Parliament. Since then, I’ve been forced to deny strenuously that I’ve done anything wrong in the aftermath of the disaster. Today’s outcome vindicates that position.  

“Six years ago, I was driven out of my job that had been my vocation for 40 years. Some commentators, who didn’t really know anything about me or the facts, rushed to judgement and predetermined my guilt.  

“But something I learned early in my police service was that no injustice is ever satisfactorily resolved through being unjust.  

“There may be a time to say more about the experience of the last six years but today isn’t that day. I shall close by saying that throughout the last six years I’ve retained my faith in the rule of law and judicial process, and my family and friends have retained their faith in me. I’d like to take this opportunity to say how much that has meant to me. I’d like to thank my legal team for their steadfast and professional support for my position.“ 

Sir Norman has remained a figure of controversy as the families of the victims have campaigned against his alleged role in South Yorkshire Police’s response to the disaster.  

On the day, he was attending the match as an off-duty spectator but went to work at the nearest police station as the disaster began to unfold. He has always insisted that he never conducted tasks that involved leadership or management on that day. 

After he was appointed chief constable of Merseyside Police in 1998, many were outraged that he did not mention his involvement in Hillsborough on his application for the role.  

Though the CPS believes that there is no longer a prospect of conviction, the chair of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, Kenny Derbyshire, said the fight for justice will go on.  

He said: “It’s absolutely heart breaking and devastating news. The cover-up of Hillsborough continues. It is now in the hands of the solicitors. We will have to wait for the next step and hopefully then we can get it overturned.” 

Sue Hemming, CPS Director of Legal Services, said: “The CPS has a duty to keep all cases under continuing review. Since the original decision to charge Norman Bettison in June 2017 there have been a number of significant developments which have affected the available evidence. These include changes in the evidence of two witnesses and the death of a third witness. 

“Our latest review of the evidence has concluded the collective impact of these developments means there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. I appreciate this news will be disappointing for the families and the CPS will meet with them in person to explain the decision. 

“I would remind all concerned that although criminal proceedings are no longer active against Norman Bettison, there are five other defendants facing charges relating to Hillsborough and each has the right to a fair trial. It is therefore extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information which could in any way prejudice those proceedings.” 

Former Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield, the match commander for South Yorkshire Police on the day of the disaster, is expected to go on trial on 95 counts of manslaughter in January. 

Graham Mackrell, Sheffield Wednesday Football Club’s company secretary and safety officer at the time, will face charges of breaching the Safety at Sports Ground Act 1975. Force Solicitor Peter Metcalf, former Chief Superintendent Donald Denton and former Detective Chief Inspector Alan Foster were all charged with perverting the course of justice and will face trial in 2019.