Sir Norman Bettison’s referral to IPCC confirmed

A special committee of West Yorkshire Police Authority met on Saturday to agree a complaint against Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison, and to refer him to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

The Yorkshire Post revealed on Saturday that the special committee – chaired by former probation officer Richard Baldwin – was almost certain to refer the chief to the IPCC after South Yorkshire Police announced they would be taking similar steps with their own officers.

Mr Baldwin said: “A number of factors led to the committee taking the decision to refer the complaint to the IPCC, including the gravity of the subject matter, the wholly exceptional circumstances and a pressing need to maintain public confidence.

“It is important the facts are fully established and evidence considered from other sources before any further decisions are taken. The IPCC is best placed to conduct such investigations.”

Sir Norman was a chief inspector in South Yorkshire at the time of the disaster and helped produce a key internal report that sought to highlight the role of supposedly drunken and unruly fans.

He also gave commentary on a heavily-edited video he presented to MPs at Parliament, which made similar points about the supporters.

The following year he held an internal meeting with the force’s lawyer in which plans were set out to “clarify” the statements of officers who were present on the day, as the force sought to minimise its own culpability at legal hearings with other culpable authorities.

Last week he issued a statement in which he said he had done nothing wrong, but then criticised Liverpool fans for having “made the job of the police harder than it needed to be”.

He was forced to apologise the following day after his remarks were widely condemned. The victims’ families have called on Sir Norman to resign.

Sir Norman said on Saturday he welcomed the IPCC referral. “It is time this moved into a more formal and legal enquiry, where it can be considered, analysed and fully assessed,” he said.