This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/feb/26/hillsborough-disaster-police-chief-apologises
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Hillsborough disaster: police chief apologises for 'ill-judged' email | Hillsborough disaster: police chief apologises for 'ill-judged' email |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The police watchdog has written to a chief constable expressing concern over comments in an email about the Hillsborough disaster that were "at best ill-judged and at worst offensive and upsetting". | The police watchdog has written to a chief constable expressing concern over comments in an email about the Hillsborough disaster that were "at best ill-judged and at worst offensive and upsetting". |
| South Yorkshire police's chief constable, David Crompton, sent an email to his senior staff last year that appeared to suggest a campaign group representing families of those who died was not telling the full truth about the 1989 tragedy. | |
| The email read: "One thing is certain – the Hillsborough Campaign for Justice will be doing their version … in fact their version of certain events has become 'the truth' even though it isn't!! | The email read: "One thing is certain – the Hillsborough Campaign for Justice will be doing their version … in fact their version of certain events has become 'the truth' even though it isn't!! |
| "I just have the feeling that the media 'machine' favours the families and not us, so we need to be a bit more innovative in our response to have a fighting chance otherwise we will just be roadkill." | "I just have the feeling that the media 'machine' favours the families and not us, so we need to be a bit more innovative in our response to have a fighting chance otherwise we will just be roadkill." |
| The internal email, which came to light following a freedom of information request, was sent as part of South Yorkshire police's preparations for the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report last year. | The internal email, which came to light following a freedom of information request, was sent as part of South Yorkshire police's preparations for the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report last year. |
| It discussed how the force could use its website to respond to the findings of the panel. | It discussed how the force could use its website to respond to the findings of the panel. |
| When the report was published, it provoked widespread condemnation of the force's response to the disaster at Sheffield Wednesday's ground in April 1989, which left 96 Liverpool fans dead. | When the report was published, it provoked widespread condemnation of the force's response to the disaster at Sheffield Wednesday's ground in April 1989, which left 96 Liverpool fans dead. |
| It revealed how dozens of police statements had been altered to portray police in a better light. | It revealed how dozens of police statements had been altered to portray police in a better light. |
| South Yorkshire police's response to the tragedy is the subject of a huge inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). | |
| Last month, the police and crime commissioner of South Yorkshire, Shaun Wright, wrote to the IPCC when he was made aware of the emails and associated documents. | Last month, the police and crime commissioner of South Yorkshire, Shaun Wright, wrote to the IPCC when he was made aware of the emails and associated documents. |
| On Tuesday, the IPCC commissioner, Nicholas Long, said the majority of the emails and documents "raised no issues". | |
| But he said one email from the chief constable caused concern. | But he said one email from the chief constable caused concern. |
| He said: "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'. | He said: "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. | "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." | "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." |
| But Long said that while "these emails have serious implications for public confidence" they do not amount to recordable conduct and the IPCC does not require a formal referral. | But Long said that while "these emails have serious implications for public confidence" they do not amount to recordable conduct and the IPCC does not require a formal referral. |
| He said it was a matter for Wright to deal with. | |
| Last week, Crompton said the email, sent to his assistant chief constable and head of press and communications, was not meant to cause offence. | Last week, Crompton said the email, sent to his assistant chief constable and head of press and communications, was not meant to cause offence. |
| He said: "It was never intended to cause any offence and I apologise if it has done so. Nor was it intended to challenge the integrity and views of those who lost loved ones in the Hillsborough disaster. | |
| "Following the publication of the panel's report, I said in the most forthright terms that I supported the findings and that is still my position." | "Following the publication of the panel's report, I said in the most forthright terms that I supported the findings and that is still my position." |
| Wright said he was disappointed with the language used and had raised his concerns with Crompton. | Wright said he was disappointed with the language used and had raised his concerns with Crompton. |
| Last week he said: "I accept the chief constable's regret for his language in this one particular email and his apology." | Last week he said: "I accept the chief constable's regret for his language in this one particular email and his apology." |