David Crompton: I wasnt responsible for Hillsborough failures
The draconian decision to force former South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable David Crompton out of office was unlawful, the High Court has heard.
The draconian decision to force former South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable David Crompton out of office was unlawful, the High Court has heard.
Mr Crompton has brought legal action against police and crime commissioner Dr Alan Billings after he was asked to resign or retire in the wake of the Hillsborough inquests.
The dismissal centred on comments Mr Crompton made in the days after a jury found police unlawfully killed 96 people that appeared to row back on a previous apology and blame victims for the tragedy.
However, Hugh Davies QC told the High Court on Tuesday (March 28) that Mr Crompton played no part in South Yorkshire Polices failings at Hillsborough.
He added that the former chief constable was not implicated in any of the jurys findings.
He said: The claimant submits that the defendant had no fair or reasonable basis for taking the draconian step of forcing him out of office, and that the decision was unlawful.
Mr Crompton issued a public apology in 2012 after the Hillsborough Independent Panel found South Yorkshire Police had tried to deflect blame for the 1989 disaster onto Liverpool supporters.
He apologised again on April 27 last year after an inquests jury found his force had been responsible.
However, Dr Billings believes Mr Crompton damaged public confidence when the following day he suggested there were other contributory factors, as his words were interpreted as referring to the fans conduct.
The PCC added that Mr Crompton did not grasp the gravity of the situation especially in the light of the Rotherham child abuse scandal, which had already undermined trust in the force.
The former chief constable was suspended in April 2016 despite intending to retire in November, and was formally dismissed in September.
Dr Billings has already defended his actions as not irrational after Mr Crompton launched his judicial review.
Mr Crompton argues that his controversial statement was referring to the actions of the ambulance service and the local authority.
Jonathan Swift QC, representing Dr Billings, called for the claim to be dismissed.
The hearing is expected to last two days.