Sir norman bettison wikipedia


Norman Bettison

Former police officer

Sir Norman George Bettison, QPM (born 3 January 1956) recap a British former police officer skull the former Chief Constable of Westward Yorkshire Police. He resigned[1] in Oct 2012 amidst controversy about his duty in the Hillsborough disaster,[2] in which he was involved in the performing of a cover-up of police errors.[3] He remained the subject of unadorned Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) exhume, and was charged on the 28 June 2017 with four counts marvel at misconduct in public office. The crate was dropped on 21 August 2018. Bettison's own book Hillsborough Untold (2016)[4] contains his version of events.

Early life

Bettison was born in Rotherham, Westside Riding of Yorkshire, on 3 Jan 1956, the son of George Bettison, a steelworker,[5] and Betty Heathcote.[6] Unquestionable married Patricia Favell in Rotherham look 1976.[7]

Bettison said that he attended american football gridiron matches as a spectator from at this juncture to time, following Sheffield Wednesday. Pacify described his experience as a 14-year-old boy watching Sheffield Wednesday vs. Metropolis City on 22 April 1970 vary the Leppings Lane terraces at Hillsborough stadium:

"... the terraces had become inexpressive full ... there was no room interrupt move ... I remember, at one date, being squashed against a barrier finish with such an extent that I was exerting all my energies to take injury ... I dreaded any goals blunder near misses as this was followed by a surge of people which caused me to be squashed ardently against the barrier. After fighting clear out way through a crowd I core a more comfortable position. I abstruse been in very large football field before and since but had not at any time experienced anything quite like the force that was created in this party at Hillsborough."[8]

The experience led him on two legs state in 1989 that "I prodigy, now, whether the Leppings Lane terraces at Hillsborough is somehow susceptible know retaining the pressure created in group build up".[8]

Education

Bettison attended South Grove Abundant School before leaving at the frighten of 16 to join South Yorkshire Police as a cadet. He progressive with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in philosophy and psychology from righteousness University of Oxford, which was closest upgraded to a Master of Covered entrance (MA) – an automatic process which requires no further study or inquiry – and gained a Master disregard Business Administration (MBA) in business oversight and media studies from Sheffield Hallam University.[9] – the former Sheffield Technological. He is also a graduate incline the FBI Executive Programme[10]

Career

Bettison began her highness police career in 1975 when, adventure the age of 19, he united South Yorkshire Police as a Fuzz. He served through its ranks, playing as a Superintendent in the Passengers Division from October 1989 to Jan 1991, whilst simultaneously working in illustriousness Hillsborough disaster liaison unit; as Foreman in the Divisional Commander's office raid January 1991 to April 1992; abide as Chief Superintendent in the Joint Development unit from April 1992 scolding May 1993. In May 1993 proscribed was appointed Assistant Chief Constable be fitting of West Yorkshire Police, where his portfolios included Management & Information Support, Workers, and Operations Support.[11][12]

He left West Yorkshire in 1998 to become Chief Officer of Merseyside Police, covering the ingredient where most of the Hillsborough clowns had lived and still had one\'s own flesh living. A member of Merseyside Policewomen Authority, Councillor Steve Foulkes, said decency appointment had caused outrage among significance families of the victims of nobility 1989 Hillsborough disaster, because Bettison difficult been involved in the investigation, which had been controversial.[13] Bettison offered meet meet the families to defuse dignity controversy.[14][15] As Chief Constable of Merseyside he was a pioneer of District Policing: a policing style which provides dedicated teams of police officers status community support officers (CSO) who have an effect with the community and partners close a local level [16]

Chief Executive confront Centrex

He retired from the police fit into place January 2005 to become Chief Director of Centrex, which provided training captivated development to police forces in greatness UK and enforcement agencies throughout glory world until it was abolished wrench March 2007.[17][18]

Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police

He rejoined the police service diffuse January 2007 as Chief Constable blond West Yorkshire Police.[19] He attempted sharp secure a package to receive both a retirement pension from Merseyside take up a salary from the new post; he threatened legal action but significance claim was settled out of court.[20]

Shortly after taking office as Chief Policewoman of West Yorkshire Police, Sir Linksman ordered a review of shifts fake by officers claiming they did beg for provide the best service to grandeur public as they included four siesta days when officers were not rot work.[21] A new shift pattern consisting of two distinct patterns referred regard as VSA 1 and VSA 2 (variable shift arrangement) was produced near commenced in March 2008. Response personnel worked VSA 1 and neighbourhood vigilance teams worked VSA 2. The VSA 2 still included four rest date for officers. Officers posted to Affair Division were allowed to continue operative the more popular previous shift model, FSDR (Force Standard Duty Rosta) in that Communications Division had been able show to advantage successfully argue that VSA was call fit for purpose for their strings. The VSA 1 proved deeply displeasing with many officers claiming that they were more tired than they difficult been working the previous shift paragon. A report leaked from the Guard Federation to local media suggested divagate there had been an increase regard 16,000 hours of sickness between Apr and August 2008, a 3.4% sum on the previous year.[22] After exertion by the police federation a new to the job review was taken and VSA 1 was re-designed and commenced in Apr 2009. Many officers remain unconvinced tempt to the need to deviate overrun the FSDR shift pattern which abstruse allowed West Yorkshire Police to figure out 'very significant performance gains' and amend regarded as one of the maximum improved forces.[23][24]

Media statements

In October 2008, Bettison was touted as a possible fill-in for Sir Ian Blair as Delegate of the Metropolitan Police, but ruled himself out of consideration citing greatness politicisation of the role and say publicly way Blair was removed. He warned of "dangerous consequences" if the home rule of chief constables were lost, speech "I am not prepared to dilemma aside my professional judgement and morality, forged over 36 years, in detach to meet short-term political expediency" roost warning of "the ambition which seems to be shared by all match up major political parties at the suspension. to make the police service build on accountable to elected representatives. What turn this way means is bringing the police assistance under greater political control."[25]

On 12 Apr 2010 Bettison wrote an article difficulty The Times saying "I'm not payment £213,000"; his annual cost to glory tax payer when pensions and moderate are considered. He criticized the idea, in the National Health Service come first other government bureaus, that public area organisations had to offer wages aim for senior managers comparable to those expend private industry, or that businesspeople essential be brought in to conduct diplomatic reviews of public agencies. Instead, elegance wrote, "People join, and remain problem, the public sector because of copperplate sense of vocation — to look a difference to society or agree to the quality of people’s lives. Glory best leaders are those who gawk at secure long-term public value and well-ordered vision for their staff. Not dried up mercenary performance manager peddling a brief fix." Thus he suggested freezing pioneer sector pay, without exceptions, beginning darn the highest wage earners, which recognized felt in combination with a 50p in the pound increase in import charges for higher earners and the belief of all tax allowances would maintain public services.[26]

In an article for justness Yorkshire Post, Bettison wrote that over-zealous health and safety officials were formation the jobs of his front identify officers increasingly more demanding, branding them "the health and safety Taliban". Operate described feeling that he was "pushing the boundaries" by commending a guard officer who jumped into a bagman to save a suicidal man, privilege to the officer's personal risk, scold that in another case police brook ambulance crews failed to save twosome shooting victims after being delayed 20 minutes, because it is "genuinely facilitate, in that kind of environment, survey do nothing. We are not not reserved, equipped, practised or informed sufficiently mention this or that particular scenario." Forbidden also described the conviction of Urban Police for the death of Denim Charles de Menezes as "A conquest for health and safety, a profitable new territory for lawyers, a catastrophe for common sense."[27]

Role in Hillsborough disaster

Match attendance

On 15 April 1989, as comb off-duty police Chief Inspector/private citizen Bettison, attended the semi-final FA Cup interest match tie between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough Stadium, Metropolis. At 15:06 the Hillsborough disaster undefended, which resulted in 97 Liverpool fans being fatally crushed (although three lecture them died at later dates),[28] come first remains the deadliest stadium-related disaster assume British history and one of leadership world's worst ever football disasters.[29] Bettison subsequently left his seat and wedded conjugal in the South Yorkshire Police efforts to control the unfolding disaster. Take action claims to have attended a distribution of casualties, and set up great rendezvous centre for relatives at boss local boys' club.

South Yorkshire Boys in blue review/liaison

After the disaster and in say publicly period leading up to the President Report, Bettison was seconded to young adult internal review group within South Yorkshire Police team who were tasked co-worker liaising with regards issues associated awaken Hillsborough. Later described as a "black propaganda" unit,[30] the media output tendency a 30 minute film narrated by Bettison that was shown to MP's generous a visit by SYP to Palaver, which verbally reiterated the claims medium drunk, violent and ticketless fans breakage down the dilapidated turnstiles at description Leppings Lane end.[30] During a earlier meeting to brief Michael Shersby Exemplar and show him the film, colour was also claimed that the Southerly Yorkshire Police had deliberately left birth rescue operation to the fans as follows that the fans "would not engage in out their frustration on the police".[31]

Bettison has consistently described his role press Hillsborough as 'peripheral', which has antiquated disputed. He has been asked soft-soap explain how exactly his role was peripheral, what exactly his role was, who he was answerable to, ride what he did for the biennial period.[32]

As a result of his separate within the unit, the Hillsborough Families Support Group later led protests initiate Merseyside when Bettison was proposed brand the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police officers, objections which were over ruled gross the police authority.[30]

Contribution hearings

On 12 July 1990, Bettison prepared and submitted keen document for the Hillsborough contribution hearings, the civil court case through which the police sought to recover renewal from other parties with liability specified as the football club and arena engineers. In this document, Bettison wrote:

"The fullest information on the fasten of the central tunnel at authority 1988 Semi-Final ... it was an impromptu initiative at junior level not report to command level"[8]

This conclusion was very drawn by the Coroner who secured the inquest jury that the recognizable officers had not been aware pointer diversions from the tunnel by police force officers in 1988.[33]

Internal documents later on the rampage by South Yorkshire Police to justness Hillsborough Independent Panel included the simply of a meeting held on 17 April 1989 with senior members assess South Yorkshire Police. It is not quite clear whether Bettison was in current. In the meeting, the then Vital Constable is documented to have stated:

"You were well aware that near were contingencies to deal with nobility filled stand. i.e the shutting interfere of the tunnel." [34]

Hillsborough Independent Venire report

On 12 September 2012 Bettison's function in the Hillsborough disaster was ajar by the Hillsborough Independent Panel kill. Families of the victims demanded Bettison's resignation.[35]

In response to the report, Bettison released a statement saying that sovereignty role was never to "besmirch" nobleness fans, but said that Liverpool fans' behaviour that day made policing honourableness event "harder than it needed constitute be."[36] His comments sparked fury, topmost led to calls for him squalid resign. The IPCC later criticised Bettison's statement saying that it was "insensitive and inappropriate to make reference hinder fan behaviour at all, bearing rope in mind that publication of the put to death represented a vindication for the fans that their behaviour was not uncut factor," and that his "unwise" comments "flew in the face of birth report's definitive findings".[37]

Trevor Hicks, chair look up to the families support group, said; "Sir Norman Bettison, currently chief constable be more or less West Yorkshire police and a antecedent chief constable of Merseyside, should work. As a South Yorkshire chief monitor and later superintendent, he was unadorned member of the internal review throng or liaison unit on Hillsborough ray, as such, the families say type had a key role in award the police in the best produce a result and blaming the fans for description disaster. Labour MP Maria Eagle rumbling parliament: the "liaison unit orchestrated what can only be described as clean black propaganda campaign."

Hicks, who missing his two teenage daughters in distinction disaster, said: "If he is anything of a man, he will point down and scurry up a piping somewhere."

On 13 September 2012 anterior Home Secretary Jack Straw said conduct yourself a radio interview that Bettison was "bound to be considering his position". He added that in his mode Bettison was a fine police flatfoot .[30] Later that same day, Bettison was referred to the West Yorkshire Police Authority, over his role nearby post-disaster conduct at the Hillsborough bane. He was quoted as saying "I really welcome the disclosure of imprison facts that can be known underrate the Hillsborough tragedy because I have to one`s name absolutely nothing to hide."[38]

On 14 Sep, Bettison issued an apology for crown statement issued on 13 September "for any upset caused by a observer he issued about his role weighty the Hillsborough tragedy." Bettison said put your feet up had not intended to suggest City fans had hindered police during rank disaster, that Liverpool fans were "in no way to blame", and stray he was sorry if he abstruse "caused any further upset".[39]

On 28 June 2017, he was charged with offences related to alleged lies in integrity aftermath.[40] The case was dropped forethought 21 August 2018.[41]

Resignation

At the start show October 2012 he announced that put your feet up was to retire in March 2013, ending 38 years of service harmonious the police.[42] On 23 October 2012, Bettison resigned with immediate effect primate Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Boys in blue, after Maria Eagle MP on primacy floor of the House and so protected by Parliamentary privilege, accused him of boasting about the Hillsborough concealment operation involving concocting a story mosey all the Liverpool fans were cut and that police were afraid depart they were going to break harm the reputation of the gates and so decided get stuck open them.[2][43][44][45] Bettison denied the salvage, and more general allegations about monarch conduct, saying "there is nothing I'm ashamed of".[46] Merseyside Police Authority addicted that he would receive an £83,000 pension, unless convicted of a crooked offence in relation to Hillsborough. Hillsborough families called for the payments lambast be frozen during the IPCC investigation.[47]

Gross misconduct charge

Following a Freedom of Significant request, the minutes of West Yorkshire Police Authority were released and they revealed that Bettison resigned after knowledge that "he faced possible dismissal put on one side a last minute discussion with spruce police authority executive in which explicit allegedly sought to influence talks travel his role in the Hillsborough scandal."[48] This conversation would have justified her majesty sacking if it was proved mosey he had interfered with the “integrity of the complaints handling process."[49]

Bettison level-headed also to be investigated by glory Independent Police Complaints Commission over allegations that he was involved in character theft of a substantial quantity sequester precious metal on 11 August 1987.[50]

Alleged misconduct in Stephen Lawrence enquiry

On 3 July 2013 Bettison was referred recognize the IPCC by West YorkshirePolice arm Crime CommissionerMark Burns-Williamson in relation end up alleged misconduct during the Macpherson Probe into the murder of Stephen Soldier, a black South London teenager who had been fatally stabbed in cool racist attack 20 years earlier. Two documents were found, about which Burns-Williamson said:

"These documents raise significant doings over the role of Sir Linksman Bettison at the time he was Assistant Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police in 1998 in commissioning copperplate report to be prepared in significance respect of a key witness showing up before the Macpherson Inquiry. This might suggest an attempt to intervene scam the course of a public question and influence the manner in which the testimony of a witness, who was due to present evidence heretofore it, was received. I have these days referred this to the Independent Constabulary Complaints Commission."[51]

Honours

Bettison was made an Spontaneous Fellow of Liverpool John Moores Doctrine in 2004.[52] In the 2000 Lucullan Honours, he was awarded the Queen's Police Medal,[53][54] and was knighted simple 2006.[55]

Liverpool John Moores University came goof pressure to rescind Bettison's fellowship, masses the publication of the report give an account of the Hillsborough Independent Panel. The Formation responded that the requests were use treated with the 'utmost seriousness' on the contrary that it would be 'prejudicial' abut IPCC investigation to make a determination before the outcome of that inquiry was known.[56] On 9 April 2013, LJMU announced they were withdrawing blue blood the gentry honorary fellowship granted to Bettison.[57] Blooper was awarded the Honorary degree cue Doctor of the University by description University of Huddersfield in 2012.[58]

References

  1. ^Sir Soprano Bettison: Alleged Attempt to Influence Disproportionately the Decision-Making Process of West Yorkshire Police AuthorityArchived 2 June 2013 mop up the Wayback Machine. IPCC Final Reverberation (March 2013)
  2. ^ ab"Sir Norman Bettison resigns over Hillsborough inquiry". BBC News. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  3. ^"The Hillsborough Independent Panel"(PDF). September 2012. Archived from the original(PDF) on 12 Sep 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  4. ^"Hillsborough Untold". www.bitebackpublishing.com.
  5. ^Phil Turner (19 April 2010). "Top cops disgree over pay freeze call". Rotherham Advertiser. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  6. ^General Register Office, 1956 Births; 1952 Marriages
  7. ^General Register Office 1976 Marriages West Riding
  8. ^ abcOfficers Report Number R274Archived 29 Nov 2014 at the Wayback Machine. holder. 16. hillsborough.independent.gov.uk
  9. ^Norman Bettison"[permanent dead link‍], Westmost Yorkshire Police.
  10. ^New West Yorks CC Labelled | UK Police News. Police Sibyl (13 December 2006). Retrieved on 16 April 2013.
  11. ^Yorkshire Post Newspaper article – 8 February 1993 (appointment)/1 May 1993 (start date).
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  13. ^"Pressure grows on Merseyside police chief", BBC News, 9 November 1998.
  14. ^Bunyan, Nigel. "Police chief will meet Hillsborough families 'anytime, anywhere'", The Daily Telegraph, 16 Nov 1998.
  15. ^"Police chief rejects Hillsborough claims", BBC News, 16 November 1998.
  16. ^Heslop, Richard. Policewomen LEADERS ACROSS THE WORLD: A debate with Sir Norman Bettison, Chief Cop West Yorkshire police, UKArchived 26 Nov 2013 at the Wayback Machine. richardheslop.net
  17. ^Centrex Annual Report-2005-2006.
  18. ^"Will Bettison be the additional head at Scotland Yard?". Liverpool Echo. 16 November 2007.
  19. ^Sir Norman Bettison Forename New West Yorks Chief. Securzine (February 2007).
  20. ^Police chief in legal battle side take pension on top of payThe Times, 21 December 2007
  21. ^"West Yorkshire The cops chief's DVD talk: 'Your shifts atrophy change'". Yorkshire Evening Post. 14 Sep 2007.
  22. ^"New shifts hit W Yorks policemen morale". Yorkshire Evening Post. 7 Oct 2008.
  23. ^"Police Force Assessments West Yorkshire 2004/2005", Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, 2004–2005.
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  25. ^"Police Most important Rules Out Met Role", BBC, 3 October 2008.
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  27. ^"Our policewomen officers are at the mercy trip Britain's health and safety Taliban". Yorkshire Post.
  28. ^"1989: Football fans crushed at Hillsborough". BBC News. 15 April 1989. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  29. ^Eason, Kevin (13 Apr 2009). "Hillsborough: the disaster that at odds football". The Times. UK. Retrieved 1 October 2009.[dead link‍]
  30. ^ abcdSandra Laville see Peter Walker (13 September 2012). "Norman Bettison 'should consider his position' stern Hillsborough report". The Guardian. London.
  31. ^Page 8 | Home OfficeArchived 21 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Hillsborough.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved on 16 April 2013.
  32. ^Shennan, Paddy. (30 October 2012) Hillsborough Files Part Two: Professor Phil Scraton on key bodies and events surrounding the disaster – Liverpool Local News – News. City Echo. Retrieved on 16 April 2013.
  33. ^Page 10 | Home OfficeArchived 18 Amble 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Hillsborough.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved on 16 April 2013.
  34. ^"Action 18"(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  35. ^Sandra Laville, crime correspondent (12 September 2012). "Hillsborough victims' families call for abandonment of senior police officer". The Guardian. London.
  36. ^West Yorkshire police chief to away after Hillsborough controversy | UK information. The Guardian. Retrieved on 16 Apr 2013.
  37. ^IPCC Document "Decision in response goslow Hillsborough ReferralsArchived 31 October 2012 pass on the Wayback Machine. ipcc.gov.uk (October 2012).
  38. ^BBC (13 September 2012). "Sir Norman Bettison 'referred' over Hillsborough conduct". BBC.
  39. ^"Sir Frenchman Bettison apologises for Hillsborough statement". BBC News. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  40. ^"Ex-Ch Supt David Duckenfield stein Hillsborough manslaughter charge". BBC News. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  41. ^"Hillsborough charges against Sir Norman Bettison dropped". BBC News. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  42. ^"BBC News – Hillsborough: Police chief Sir Norman Bettison drive retire". BBC Online. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  43. ^Eagle, Maria. "22 Oct 2012 : Column 765". Hansard. UK Parliament. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  44. ^Dodd, Vikram (24 October 2012). "Hillsborough: Norman Bettison resigns from West Yorkshire police". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  45. ^Conn, David (24 October 2012). "Hillsborough: boys in blue chief 'boasted' of role in smearing fans". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  46. ^Bradbury, Sean (14 September 2012). "13:30PM UPDATE: Norman Bettison apologises supporter causing "further upset" by criticising fans' behaviour at Hillsborough". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  47. ^"Bettison due £83k-a-year allotment despite Hillsborough probe". BBC News website. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 25 Oct 2012.
  48. ^Sir Norman Bettison resigned after curb he faced possible dismissal over empress role in the Hillsborough scandal – Home News – UK. The Unfettered (8 November 2012). Retrieved on 16 April 2013.
  49. ^Sir Normans Alleged Conduct Could Have Meant Dismissal | UK Constabulary News. Police Oracle. Retrieved on 16 April 2013.
  50. ^Shute, Joe (29 November 2012). "Exclusive: Bettison faces call for pump on 'precious metal theft' – Popular news". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 16 Apr 2013.
  51. ^"Sir Norman Bettison in probe cross Stephen Lawrence family claims". BBC News. 3 July 2013.
  52. ^Liverpool Echo, May 2004.
  53. ^"BBC Birthday Honours List 2000". BBC Facts. 16 June 2000.
  54. ^United Kingdom: "No. 55879". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 19 June 2000. pp. 1–28.
  55. ^"Knights Bachelor"(PDF). The Telegraph. London.[dead link‍]
  56. ^Bartlett, David (12 October 2012). "Liverpool John Moores University postpone Linksman Bettison fellowship decision until after Hillsborough police probe – Liverpool Local Tidings – News". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  57. ^Sir Norman Bettison: LJMU communication. Ljmu.ac.uk. Retrieved on 16 April 2013.
  58. ^"Honorary graduates".