Bradford MPs welcome police chief's resignation over Hillsborough claims (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Bradford MPs welcome police chief's resignation over Hillsborough claims
7:00am Thursday 25th October 2012 in News
By Anika Bourley
Sir Norman Bettison
Under-fire chief constable Sir Norman Bettison was right to resign as allegations over his behaviour following the Hillsborough disaster were damaging the good name of West Yorkshire Police, MPs believe.
Sir Norman tendered his resignation at a special meeting of West Yorkshire Police Authority yesterday after a growing clamour for him to step down earlier than his announced retirement in March.
More allegations dating back to when he was a chief inspector with South Yorkshire Police were made this week in Parliament, including reports of a conversation he supposedly had in a pub in which he allegedly said he was “concocting” a story about the disaster for South Yorkshire Police, which he strenuously denies.
It was also said Sir Norman “boasted” about smearing Liverpool fans in the aftermath of the disaster.
Deputy Chief Constable John Parkinson will take up the role of acting Chief Constable.
Keighley MP Kris Hopkins said: “Sir Norman’s position has been untenable for some time and, in the wake of further allegations made against him earlier this week, it became a question of whether he jumped before he was pushed.
“His insistence on staying in post has damaged the proud name of West Yorkshire Police, and that should be a matter of deep regret to him. I now look forward to the outcome of the ongoing Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation.”
Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe said: “Clearly given what is happening his position was untenable and resigning was the right thing to do for the good of the force. We will now wait to see what happens. Everyone is shocked at the number of police officers believed to be involved in all of this.”
Bradford East MP David Ward said: “It was inevitable and it is regrettable that push came to shove really. I would have thought that really this decision is inevitable and should have happened before now. It is regrettable it took so long as it did.”
Sir Norman is under investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission for his actions following the Hillsborough disaster.
His resignation will enable him to take his full pension entitlement for his time as an officer, reported to be an estimated £88,000 a year.
Bradford West MP George Galloway said the resignation was not enough but said he was glad Sir Norman had finally been forced to “do the decent thing”.
He added: “His position has been untenable since the Hillsborough report came out and it speaks volumes for his judgement that he believed he could hold on to his salary and the reins of power to go at a time of his choosing.
“He is gone and good riddance. The criminal inquiry is ongoing but the verdict is on Sir Norman Bettison. I will now be calling for him to be stripped of his knighthood and his pension.”
Shipley MP Philip Davies said: “As it happens I always got along well with Norman Bettison and I thought he did an excellent job as chief constable of West Yorkshire Police.
“It is has come to the point he has lost the confidence of the people at the Police Authority and the police force itself, the position becomes untenable and he had no alternative in the end. Time will tell about what happened at Hillsborough and that information will come about in the future. Speaking separately with that aside, it would be unfair to say anything but that he did an excellent job as chief constable of West Yorkshire.”
The Police Authority said the IPPC report and the media attention was proving a distraction at a time when the force was trying to maintain performance and make £100 million of savings. Vice-chairman Councillor Les Carter said: “We therefore believe that his decision is in the best interest of the communities of West Yorkshire.”
Comments(24)
collos25
says...
8:54am Thu 25 Oct 12
When are we going to see NB in court .
ANY WHERE BUT HERE
says...
9:33am Thu 25 Oct 12
food_for_thought wrote:So the system we have had in place for the last 70 years hasn't worked.(True there mostly all bent.)
Seeing as we are going to have to spend yet more tax-payers' money on a 'Police and Crime Commissioner' - how about we all try and ensure that this goes to a professional instead of yet another self-serving politician? There is only one candidate for West Yorkshire's PCC who is not backed by our discredited political parties...oh, and he also happens to be an ex-copper with 30 years' service - so maybe he'll actually know summat about t' job! If we have to have a PCC, let's have a professional! Vote Cedric Christie.
PS I've no affiliation with the man or his campaign, actually I think the whole PCC thing is a gimmick and a waste of public money - but it is an opportunity for us to show politicians that we want them out of our daily lives - policing, education, health service - it's time they were left alone to provide the services people want, not constantly fiddled with to allow politicians to justify their own existence.
Rant over!
We have spent billions on a system that takes no responsibility ie Norman Bettison and the rest, All these people who can't be judged, unlike the rest of us.
So now they come out with MORE bureauracy. Vote for a commisioner who will be more accountable, we can sack them if were not happy. Cedric (summat) Christie * OFF
Kash260
says...
9:57am Thu 25 Oct 12
West Yorkshire has the 4th highest hate crime figures in the country
•West Yorkshire has the highest disability hate crime figures in the country
•West Yorkshire Police is among the top five worst forces in the country for not recording crimes
•Disability Hate Crime has increased by 488% in West Yorkshire in the last 3 years.
•In 2011 there were 1514 racial offences recorded by West Yorkshire Police but only 625 were detected
•In the last two years Officers in West Yorkshire Police missed 5,237 working days due to sickness.
•Black people are almost 7 times more likely to be stop and searched under s.23 than white people in West Yorkshire.
Kash260
says...
10:08am Thu 25 Oct 12
http://www.wakefield
express.co.uk/news/l
ocal/more-wakefield-
news/former-west-yor
kshire-police-detect
ive-s-child-****-sha
me-1-4712857
teddygoray
says...
10:29am Thu 25 Oct 12
Albion.
says...
10:48am Thu 25 Oct 12
food_for_thought wrote:I was thinking the same thing and mentioned it the other day when the names were announced.
Seeing as we are going to have to spend yet more tax-payers' money on a 'Police and Crime Commissioner' - how about we all try and ensure that this goes to a professional instead of yet another self-serving politician? There is only one candidate for West Yorkshire's PCC who is not backed by our discredited political parties...oh, and he also happens to be an ex-copper with 30 years' service - so maybe he'll actually know summat about t' job! If we have to have a PCC, let's have a professional! Vote Cedric Christie.
PS I've no affiliation with the man or his campaign, actually I think the whole PCC thing is a gimmick and a waste of public money - but it is an opportunity for us to show politicians that we want them out of our daily lives - policing, education, health service - it's time they were left alone to provide the services people want, not constantly fiddled with to allow politicians to justify their own existence.
Rant over!
The Hoffster
says...
10:51am Thu 25 Oct 12
Oh, and vote George Galloway for his replacement.
You know it makes sense.
Albion.
says...
10:59am Thu 25 Oct 12
The Hoffster wrote:George isn't a police officer.
Does this mean he's going to be stripped off his Knighthood too?
Oh, and vote George Galloway for his replacement.
You know it makes sense.
The Hoffster
says...
11:41am Thu 25 Oct 12
Albion. wrote:Who cares; he'll do a much better job than this particlaur shower of sh!t that we've had for the last few years.
The Hoffster wrote:George isn't a police officer.
Does this mean he's going to be stripped off his Knighthood too?
Oh, and vote George Galloway for his replacement.
You know it makes sense.
The Hoffster
says...
11:41am Thu 25 Oct 12
Albion. wrote:Who cares; he'll do a much better job than this particular shower of sh!t that we've had for the last few years.
The Hoffster wrote:George isn't a police officer.
Does this mean he's going to be stripped off his Knighthood too?
Oh, and vote George Galloway for his replacement.
You know it makes sense.
Albion.
says...
11:56am Thu 25 Oct 12
The Hoffster wrote:He cant be appointed chief constable.
Albion. wrote:Who cares; he'll do a much better job than this particular shower of sh!t that we've had for the last few years.
The Hoffster wrote:George isn't a police officer.
Does this mean he's going to be stripped off his Knighthood too?
Oh, and vote George Galloway for his replacement.
You know it makes sense.
He isn't a candidate for commissioner, that really would be a disaster (a commissioner who spends most of the year toadying up to tin-pot dictators).
Prisoner Cell Block A
says...
12:08pm Thu 25 Oct 12
Bettison needs his knighthood stripping too, not that a knighthood is any certificate of good and honourable, it is devalued beyond belief and not many Knights of the Realm are worthy people.
scottie dog
says...
12:08pm Thu 25 Oct 12
food_for_thought wrote:After seeing the candidates being intervieved on look north the other night I came to the same conclusion, this is an effort by the politicians to politicise the police force.
Seeing as we are going to have to spend yet more tax-payers' money on a 'Police and Crime Commissioner' - how about we all try and ensure that this goes to a professional instead of yet another self-serving politician? There is only one candidate for West Yorkshire's PCC who is not backed by our discredited political parties...oh, and he also happens to be an ex-copper with 30 years' service - so maybe he'll actually know summat about t' job! If we have to have a PCC, let's have a professional! Vote Cedric Christie.
PS I've no affiliation with the man or his campaign, actually I think the whole PCC thing is a gimmick and a waste of public money - but it is an opportunity for us to show politicians that we want them out of our daily lives - policing, education, health service - it's time they were left alone to provide the services people want, not constantly fiddled with to allow politicians to justify their own existence.
Rant over!
Marty12
says...
12:38pm Thu 25 Oct 12
Kash260 wrote:The answer to those questions will be found if you look at the demographics of West Yorks. Especially Bradford!
How can Philip Davies MP still defend Bettison and say that he did an excellent job for West Yorkshire. Is not aware of the following figures: West Yorkshire has the 4th highest hate crime figures in the country •West Yorkshire has the highest disability hate crime figures in the country •West Yorkshire Police is among the top five worst forces in the country for not recording crimes •Disability Hate Crime has increased by 488% in West Yorkshire in the last 3 years. •In 2011 there were 1514 racial offences recorded by West Yorkshire Police but only 625 were detected •In the last two years Officers in West Yorkshire Police missed 5,237 working days due to sickness. •Black people are almost 7 times more likely to be stop and searched under s.23 than white people in West Yorkshire.
cookie_brighton
says...
12:43pm Thu 25 Oct 12
He should be accountable for the 96 deaths at Hillsborough, charged and face british justice, like anyone of us would have to do.
Now with this and the alleged perverting the course of justice acts by the police during the miners strike shows that lies are rife within the police force.
Marty12
says...
12:44pm Thu 25 Oct 12
scottie dog wrote:The Norman Bettison affair is a preview of how its going to be with politicians running the show instead of professionals.
food_for_thought wrote: Seeing as we are going to have to spend yet more tax-payers' money on a 'Police and Crime Commissioner' - how about we all try and ensure that this goes to a professional instead of yet another self-serving politician? There is only one candidate for West Yorkshire's PCC who is not backed by our discredited political parties...oh, and he also happens to be an ex-copper with 30 years' service - so maybe he'll actually know summat about t' job! If we have to have a PCC, let's have a professional! Vote Cedric Christie. PS I've no affiliation with the man or his campaign, actually I think the whole PCC thing is a gimmick and a waste of public money - but it is an opportunity for us to show politicians that we want them out of our daily lives - policing, education, health service - it's time they were left alone to provide the services people want, not constantly fiddled with to allow politicians to justify their own existence. Rant over!After seeing the candidates being intervieved on look north the other night I came to the same conclusion, this is an effort by the politicians to politicise the police force.
Verdicts before the trials: kangeroo courts: posturing: media soundbites.
And let's see how long it is before their grubby new bureaucracies start mounting up the costs, expenses scandals, trying to pervert the course of justice etc.
Well done Cameron.
Marty12
says...
12:46pm Thu 25 Oct 12
cookie_brighton wrote:I'd heard that the allegations were about changing reports after the disaster, not that he had anything to do with the disaster. Have I missed something? Or are facts a bit inconvenient?
He resigns, therefore no disciplinary hearing will ever take place therefore securing his police pension He should be accountable for the 96 deaths at Hillsborough, charged and face british justice, like anyone of us would have to do. Now with this and the alleged perverting the course of justice acts by the police during the miners strike shows that lies are rife within the police force.
scottie dog
says...
1:27pm Thu 25 Oct 12
Marty12 wrote:The allegation is he conspired to change police statements after the event which in some cases appeared to show there was no cohesive command structure during or after the events at hillsborourgh. .
cookie_brighton wrote:I'd heard that the allegations were about changing reports after the disaster, not that he had anything to do with the disaster. Have I missed something? Or are facts a bit inconvenient?
He resigns, therefore no disciplinary hearing will ever take place therefore securing his police pension He should be accountable for the 96 deaths at Hillsborough, charged and face british justice, like anyone of us would have to do. Now with this and the alleged perverting the course of justice acts by the police during the miners strike shows that lies are rife within the police force.
Marty12
says...
1:43pm Thu 25 Oct 12
scottie dog wrote:That's what I thought.
Marty12 wrote:The allegation is he conspired to change police statements after the event which in some cases appeared to show there was no cohesive command structure during or after the events at hillsborourgh. .cookie_brighton wrote: He resigns, therefore no disciplinary hearing will ever take place therefore securing his police pension He should be accountable for the 96 deaths at Hillsborough, charged and face british justice, like anyone of us would have to do. Now with this and the alleged perverting the course of justice acts by the police during the miners strike shows that lies are rife within the police force.I'd heard that the allegations were about changing reports after the disaster, not that he had anything to do with the disaster. Have I missed something? Or are facts a bit inconvenient?
So how does it make him accountable for the deaths?
freespeech
says...
2:26pm Thu 25 Oct 12
scottie dog wrote:Am so pleased to see folk are seeing the Police and Crime Commissioner is politicising the police.
food_for_thought wrote:After seeing the candidates being intervieved on look north the other night I came to the same conclusion, this is an effort by the politicians to politicise the police force.
Seeing as we are going to have to spend yet more tax-payers' money on a 'Police and Crime Commissioner' - how about we all try and ensure that this goes to a professional instead of yet another self-serving politician? There is only one candidate for West Yorkshire's PCC who is not backed by our discredited political parties...oh, and he also happens to be an ex-copper with 30 years' service - so maybe he'll actually know summat about t' job! If we have to have a PCC, let's have a professional! Vote Cedric Christie.
PS I've no affiliation with the man or his campaign, actually I think the whole PCC thing is a gimmick and a waste of public money - but it is an opportunity for us to show politicians that we want them out of our daily lives - policing, education, health service - it's time they were left alone to provide the services people want, not constantly fiddled with to allow politicians to justify their own existence.
Rant over!
I am following the advice of Lord Ian Blair, the ex Commissioner of the Met.
Speaking of which, why does that force not need an elected P&CC? Oh that's it, it's already funded and run from central government.
BertSanders
says...
2:38pm Thu 25 Oct 12
I expect that it will be a political post and will be operated along the Party lines
Marty12
says...
2:46pm Thu 25 Oct 12
BertSanders wrote:Of course. With the usual impartiality, rigour and intelligence of party politics!!!!
The 4 MPs welcome the resignation - I would welcome the resignation of the 4 MPs. In Bradford West I am unrepresented - and whilst I am not sure or interested in the Crime Commissioner I expect that it will be a political post and will be operated along the Party lines
Also, how has Bradford and district ended up becoming the dumping ground for any numpty who has political ambition? Galloway was just a protest joke, and a good joke too. But the average Bradford MP or councillor is not a lot better.
RollandSmoke
says...
10:43pm Thu 25 Oct 12
teddygoray wrote:I would be very suprised if he isn't a member of the "Sine Favore" Lodge.
Bettison should be in the dock and prisoned..is he a mason?
Lodge number 9856.
http://www.telegraph
.co.uk/news/uknews/l
aw-and-order/8713343
/Freemasons-in-the-p
olice-leading-the-at
tack-on-David-Camero
ns-riot-response.htm
l
food_for_thought says...
7:32am Thu 25 Oct 12
PS I've no affiliation with the man or his campaign, actually I think the whole PCC thing is a gimmick and a waste of public money - but it is an opportunity for us to show politicians that we want them out of our daily lives - policing, education, health service - it's time they were left alone to provide the services people want, not constantly fiddled with to allow politicians to justify their own existence.
Rant over!