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Hillsborough inquests: Police told to 'blame fans' | Hillsborough inquests: Police told to 'blame fans' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Police officers were told to put the blame for Hillsborough on "drunken, ticketless Liverpool supporters", the inquests into the disaster have heard. | Police officers were told to put the blame for Hillsborough on "drunken, ticketless Liverpool supporters", the inquests into the disaster have heard. |
Ex-inspector Clive Davis told the jury he recalled a briefing given by Ch Supt Terry Wain two days after the 15 April 1989 tragedy in Sheffield. | Ex-inspector Clive Davis told the jury he recalled a briefing given by Ch Supt Terry Wain two days after the 15 April 1989 tragedy in Sheffield. |
Mr Davis said he was told by his boss to attend the meeting as it was a good chance to get noticed "career-wise". | Mr Davis said he was told by his boss to attend the meeting as it was a good chance to get noticed "career-wise". |
Two of Mr Davis' superiors dispute his account of the meeting, jurors heard. | Two of Mr Davis' superiors dispute his account of the meeting, jurors heard. |
Mr Davis said he worked as an inspector in South Yorkshire Police's research and development unit in 1989 and shared an office with his superior Ch Insp Norman Bettison. | Mr Davis said he worked as an inspector in South Yorkshire Police's research and development unit in 1989 and shared an office with his superior Ch Insp Norman Bettison. |
The jury heard Mr Davis went into work on the Monday after the disaster and Ch Insp Bettison told him about the briefing due to be held later that morning. | The jury heard Mr Davis went into work on the Monday after the disaster and Ch Insp Bettison told him about the briefing due to be held later that morning. |
'Discarded beer cans' | 'Discarded beer cans' |
Mr Davis said Ch Insp Bettison had told him it was "the biggest thing to happen in South Yorkshire Police" and it would benefit them "to be a part of what was going to happen in the wake of it". | Mr Davis said Ch Insp Bettison had told him it was "the biggest thing to happen in South Yorkshire Police" and it would benefit them "to be a part of what was going to happen in the wake of it". |
He told the hearing Ch Supt Wain opened the briefing, held on the fifth floor of South Yorkshire Police headquarters in Sheffield. | He told the hearing Ch Supt Wain opened the briefing, held on the fifth floor of South Yorkshire Police headquarters in Sheffield. |
Mr Davis said: "His words were, and I can almost remember them verbatim, that 'we were going to put the blame for this disaster where it belongs: on the drunken, ticketless Liverpool fans'.'' | Mr Davis said: "His words were, and I can almost remember them verbatim, that 'we were going to put the blame for this disaster where it belongs: on the drunken, ticketless Liverpool fans'.'' |
He recalled Mr Wain told the meeting officers should drive along the M62 to look for discarded beer or alcohol cans. | He recalled Mr Wain told the meeting officers should drive along the M62 to look for discarded beer or alcohol cans. |
They were also told to speak to people living near Hillsborough and owners of local licensed premises to "look at the behaviour of Liverpool supporters", Mr Davis said. | They were also told to speak to people living near Hillsborough and owners of local licensed premises to "look at the behaviour of Liverpool supporters", Mr Davis said. |
'Early conclusion' | 'Early conclusion' |
Mr Davis said: "This was a very high-level briefing. It was, if you like, a lead-off, a start-off... I suppose it would be like a call to arms almost." | Mr Davis said: "This was a very high-level briefing. It was, if you like, a lead-off, a start-off... I suppose it would be like a call to arms almost." |
He told the hearing Ch Supt Wain had "clearly" been "given a job to do" and his orders would only have come from the chief constable . | He told the hearing Ch Supt Wain had "clearly" been "given a job to do" and his orders would only have come from the chief constable . |
Mr Davis continued: "It was all still very much emerging, but to me, it seemed very early to come to such a decisive, definitive conclusion. | Mr Davis continued: "It was all still very much emerging, but to me, it seemed very early to come to such a decisive, definitive conclusion. |
At the time in question, he said, the force's understanding of exactly what had happened was "embryonic". | At the time in question, he said, the force's understanding of exactly what had happened was "embryonic". |
He added: "It seemed early to me to have come to that conclusion, but this appeared to be the conclusion that people had reached." | He added: "It seemed early to me to have come to that conclusion, but this appeared to be the conclusion that people had reached." |
No minutes from the meeting have been found. | No minutes from the meeting have been found. |
Who were the 96 victims? | Who were the 96 victims? |
BBC News: Profiles of all those who died | BBC News: Profiles of all those who died |
Jonathan Hough QC, who asks questions on behalf of the coroner, told the jury "no other officer" has given an account of the meeting. | Jonathan Hough QC, who asks questions on behalf of the coroner, told the jury "no other officer" has given an account of the meeting. |
Mr Davis first spoke publicly about the meeting in September 2012. | Mr Davis first spoke publicly about the meeting in September 2012. |
When asked why he did not raise it during the rest of his career with the force, he told the inquest: "I had no confidence, I think, that it would be properly received and properly dealt with." | When asked why he did not raise it during the rest of his career with the force, he told the inquest: "I had no confidence, I think, that it would be properly received and properly dealt with." |
He added: "My experience of South Yorkshire Police is people that raise issues and problems become the problem." | He added: "My experience of South Yorkshire Police is people that raise issues and problems become the problem." |
Mr Davis said it was a meeting he reflected on "almost on a daily basis". | Mr Davis said it was a meeting he reflected on "almost on a daily basis". |
Chris Daw QC, who represents Ch Supt Wain, said records showed his client had "nothing to do with the Hillsborough inquiry" until a week after the briefing was said to have taken place. | |
He suggested to Mr Davis the meeting did not happen and he was telling "barefaced lies". | He suggested to Mr Davis the meeting did not happen and he was telling "barefaced lies". |
Mr Davis replied: "I understand the suggestion, but I refute it." | Mr Davis replied: "I understand the suggestion, but I refute it." |
The inquests, into the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans killed after crushing at the FA Cup semi-final tie, continues. | The inquests, into the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans killed after crushing at the FA Cup semi-final tie, continues. |