Bishop calls for evidence for inquiry into ‘Battle of Orgreave’
The Bishop chairing the inquiry into the so-called Battle of Orgreave has called for evidence from those involved in one of the most violent days in the year-long miners’ strike.
The Right Reverend Dr Pete Wilcox, the Bishop of Sheffield, was appointed chairman by the Government as it launched its promised official inquiry into violent clashes between pickets and police outside a coking plant in South Yorkshire on June 18 1984.
The Bishop told the Press Association the inquiry has statutory powers to seek information from politicians and police officers at the time as well as unions and the media.
“We will have the power to compel individuals to give evidence to us although I hope we will only have to do that sparingly.
“We want to hear from as many people as possible about what happened at Orgreave and the impact it has had since.”
The Bishop said he has witnessed first hand the trauma that still exists among miners who were at Orgreave, believing they had been “deeply affected”.
The Bishop said he might have to interview some people in their homes because of their age.
He was a student in Durham at the time of the year-long strike, and was fully aware of the Orgreave campaign when he was appointed Bishop eight years ago.
He added that the inquiry will be properly resourced, with a target date for completing its work.
The Bishop launched a call for evidence on Thursday, inviting submissions from individuals and organisations with relevant information or experiences.
Information on how to take part is available at orgreave.public-inquiry.co.uk.
The submission window will close on May 22, after which the Bishop will confirm the next stages of the inquiry’s work.
Members of the inquiry panel were also announced on Thursday.
They are Wendy Williams, a former chief prosecutor in the Crown Prosecution Service and Dr Angela Sutton-Vane, a historian with extensive experience in evidence-based research, historical accountability and the archiving, preservation of and access to police force records.
Also on the panel are Baroness Mary Bousted, a former trade union leader representing teachers and support staff and Dr Joanna Gilmore, a senior lecturer in law at the University of York, whose research expertise includes public order law, human rights and policing policy.