Under-fire West Yorkshire Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison has resigned.

He tendered his resignation ahead of a meeting today which was scheduled to consider his role in the aftermath of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which he investigated for South Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Police Authority vice-chairman Les Carter confirmed.

Sir Norman has been under growing pressure since the Hillsborough Independent Panel report was published and he is being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

He had previously announced that he would leave the Force next year.

In a resignation statement today he said: "The Police Authority, and some of the candidates in the forthcoming PCC elections, have made it clear that they wish me to go sooner.


"I do so, not because of any allegations about the past, but because I share the view that this has become a distraction to policing in West Yorkshire now and in the future.
 

"I have therefore agreed to retire within the statutory notice period.

" It has been a privilege to serve the public as a Police Officer for more than 40 years and I wish the Force and the Police Service every success for the future."