Coroner outlines details of new Hillsborough inquests
Hillsborough coroner promises new inquests will try to expose "any culpable or discreditable conduct".
Watchdog interviews former officers about Hillsborough
The Independent Police Complaints Commission has revealed its progress on its investigations into the Hillsborough disaster.
Hillsborough: location of new inquest could be revealed
It is expected the location of a new inquest into the deaths of 96 Liverpool football supporters at Hillsborough will be revealed today.
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Statement from West Yorkshire Police Federation
The chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Federation, Jon Christopher, told Calendar:
"Clearly Sir Norman is no longer a serving officer. It is now open to the public debate to see what, if anything, can be done against him if that's the will of the public."
Bettison: Conduct 'fell so short' of what expected
"It was the IPCC's view at the start of the investigation, as it was the view of his Police Authority, that Sir Norman's actions, if proven, fell so far short of what is expected of a Chief Constable that dismissal would be justified.
"The evidence uncovered during the investigation supports that view".
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Police and Crime Commissioner accepts Chief Constable's apology
South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner says he has accepted the Chief Constable's apology over an email saying Hillsborough campaigners were not telling the "truth".
I have received the letter from the IPCC following my informing them of concerns about an internal email written by the South Yorkshire Chief Constable shortly before the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report last year and which I considered used language that could be construed as inappropriate and insensitive.
– Shaun Wright, Police and Crime Commissioner for South YorkshireI note the comments of the IPCC, including that the email has ‘serious implications for public confidence’ but that it does not amount to a conduct issue and therefore does not require a formal referral.
As previously stated, I have raised my concerns and disappointment with the Chief Constable but I have now accepted the apology he has issued and I believe I have taken all appropriate action at this stage to deal with the matter.
South Yorkshire Police Constable: Hillsborough campaigners' version has "become the truth"
The emails criticised by the IPCC contain correspondence between the Chief Constable and his senior management team. The theme of the correspondence is the force's preparation for the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel's report in September 2012.
"The IPCC has considered the content of these emails and documentation carefully. The majority of it raises no issues, but there was, however, one email from the Chief Constable which caused me concern. It referred to preparing what "amounts to the case for the defence” and stated that the "Hillsborough Campaign for Justice's…version of certain events had become the truth even though it isn't”. I consider that this is at best ill-judged, and at worst offensive and upsetting. I have written to Chief Constable Crompton to express these views.
"Families and individuals affected by the Hillsborough tragedy, along with the wider public, will rightly be concerned over the apparent attitude displayed by this communication within the highest ranks of the force which is currently under investigation in relation to the actions of its officers and staff around the disaster.
– IPCC Commissioner Nicholas Long"These regrettable actions are now a matter for the Police and Crime Commissioner of South Yorkshire. The IPCC has written to PCC Wright, to alert him to the fact that, whilst these e mails have serious implications for public confidence, they do not amount to recordable conduct and the IPCC does not require a formal referral. I have indicated to PCC Wright that it is his responsibility to decide what further action is appropriate.”
IPCC writes to South Yorkshire Police Constable over Hillsborough email
The IPCC has criticised the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, David Crompton, about emails in which he says the Hillsborough campaigners are not telling the "truth".
The IPCC has written to Mr Crompton to express concerns about the email, which he wrote in relation to plans for the force's handling of the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report.
In January 2013 the Police and Crime Commissioner of South Yorkshire, Shaun Wright, wrote to the IPCC when he was made aware of the email. It was one of many supporting documents released under Freedom of Information Act.
Hillsborough inquest venue "important"
The Hillsborough inquest could now be held away from Sheffield after a change in the law. A change to the Coroners Act 1988 will mean inquests can be held at different locations in England and Wales, if it is in the best interest of the bereaved family and others, such as witnesses.
Hillsborough Family Support Group chairman Trevor Hicks said the venue of the inquest was "important" to the relatives of victims and has been discussed extensively.
Mr Hicks, who lost his two daughters, 19-year-old Sarah and 15-year-old Victoria, said:
– Trevor Hicks, Hillsborough Family Support GroupWe have been vociferously vocal in that we didn't want the inquest to be held in Sheffield. It's nothing against Sheffield, per se. But it didn't serve us well on the last occasion.
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New laws for Hillsborough inquests
A change to a law - brought about due to the Hillsborough inquiry - which means families of the Hillsborough victims won't have to travel for inquests has been welcomed by campaigners.
Coroners can now hold them wherever is best for families and witnesses.
Christmas shopping - mixed fortunes
There have been mixed fortunes for some of our local high streets and shopping centres over the festive period according to new figures.
Meadowhall in Sheffield says more than one and a half million people visited the centre over the Christmas period, including a hundred and fifty thousand on Boxing Day alone.
Tribute to late Sir Irvine Patnick
The former deputy chairman of Sheffield Hallam Conservatives has been paying tribute to Sir Irvine Patnick who has died aged 83.
There had been calls for him to be stripped of his knighthood since his role as the source The Sun's coverage of the disaster was made clear by the Hillsborough Independent Panel in September.
– Alan Ryder, former Deputy Chairman of Sheffield Hallam ConservativesHe will be sadly missed by his brothers and by all his family and friends.
He was a very good councillor in Sheffield and he was also a local MP at a time when obviously, when he was on the council and in government, he was very much a minority in this area, being only one of a very small band of Tories. He always did his best for Sheffield, his record over the years shows that, and I'm sure everybody who knew him would say the same.
Former Hillsborough MP dies
The former Conservative MP who helped smear Liverpool fans after the Hillsborough disaster has died.
Sir Irvine Patnick, who was a source for a Sun story criticising the supporters' behaviour in the tragedy, died aged 83.
He was the MP for Sheffield Hallam from 1987 to 1997.
Amid widespread revulsion at the police cover-up which sought to shift the blame for the tragedy to the fans, Sir Irvine said in September he was "deeply and sincerely sorry" about his role. He said he had passed on police information that was "inaccurate, misleading and plain wrong".
Ninety-six Liverpool fans died at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium during the 1989 FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest.
A statement, issued by his family, said:
"Sir Irvine Patnick OBE, died peacefully on 30 December 2012, aged 83, in Sheffield.
"He was a much loved husband of Lynda and father of Suzanne and Matthew.
"He'll be sadly missed by his brothers and by all his family and friends."
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