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| IPCC will not investigate police over Orgreave | IPCC will not investigate police over Orgreave |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police will not be investigated over one of the most violent clashes of the 1984-5 miners' strike, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has decided. | |
| The passage of time meant allegations of assault and misconduct at Orgreave coking plant South Yorkshire "could not be pursued", the IPCC said. | |
| More than 120 officers and pickets were injured and 95 miners were charged. | More than 120 officers and pickets were injured and 95 miners were charged. |
| Campaigners said they were disappointed and have called for a public inquiry. | |
| The IPCC said its decision could be reviewed if further evidence emerged. | The IPCC said its decision could be reviewed if further evidence emerged. |
| South Yorkshire Police referred itself to the IPCC after a BBC documentary in 2013 claimed officers may have colluded in writing court statements. | South Yorkshire Police referred itself to the IPCC after a BBC documentary in 2013 claimed officers may have colluded in writing court statements. |
| Mark Metcalf, spokesman for the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC), said its members were disappointed but not surprised. | |
| He said: "The fact the IPCC, described rightly in our view by many prominent individuals as 'not fit for purpose', is stepping aside will not deter the OTJC from continuing its campaign. | |
| "The IPPC report recognises the limitations of what the organisation can do and that only a Hillsborough-style public inquiry can eventually get to the truth." | |
| Chris Kitchen, general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), said: "We want justice, we want people to know. | |
| "Yes, it might not change what's happened - you can't change the past - but we want to be able to put this to bed. | "Yes, it might not change what's happened - you can't change the past - but we want to be able to put this to bed. |
| "We want it to come to light what happened so that people can move on and can look to the future." | "We want it to come to light what happened so that people can move on and can look to the future." |
| Former miner Kevin Horne, 64, who was arrested for obstruction, but never charged, said: "I think they've got away with murder really, because the evidence is all there. | |
| "They don't seem to have investigated properly or it's not in their power to do a proper investigation." | |
| IPCC deputy chair Sarah Green said: "These are events from more than 30 years ago, and I have considered the impact such a passage of time could have on an IPCC investigation and possible outcomes. | IPCC deputy chair Sarah Green said: "These are events from more than 30 years ago, and I have considered the impact such a passage of time could have on an IPCC investigation and possible outcomes. |
| "In addition, because the miners arrested at Orgreave were acquitted or no evidence offered, there are no miscarriages of justice due to alleged police failures for the IPCC to investigate. | "In addition, because the miners arrested at Orgreave were acquitted or no evidence offered, there are no miscarriages of justice due to alleged police failures for the IPCC to investigate. |
| "Allegations of offences amounting to minor assaults could not be prosecuted due to the passage of time; and as many of the police officers involved in events at Orgreave are retired, no disciplinary action could be pursued. | "Allegations of offences amounting to minor assaults could not be prosecuted due to the passage of time; and as many of the police officers involved in events at Orgreave are retired, no disciplinary action could be pursued. |
| "I have therefore concluded that there should not be an IPCC-led investigation." | "I have therefore concluded that there should not be an IPCC-led investigation." |
| What was the 'Battle of Orgreave'? | |
| On 18 June 1984 about 10,000 striking miners gathered at Orgreave coking plant near Rotherham determined to stop several lorry loads of coke leaving for the steelworks. | |
| About 5,000 police officers, drafted in from across the country, stood against them, to hold them back. | |
| There was violence on both sides, but when police horses charged the crowd the violence escalated and many officers and miners were injured. | |
| Those arrested at Orgreave were held for a variety of alleged offences, with several being put on trial for rioting. | |
| The trial collapsed after 16 weeks when it became clear police evidence was unreliable. | |
| Eyewitness account: | |
| Dave Smith, a former miner and former president of Dinnington NUM was at Orgreave on 18 June 1984. | |
| He said it was a hot day and they had been playing football, but the police arrived and all "hell let loose." | |
| "Horses came out, short shields came out; we tried to defend ourselves as best we could. | |
| "Most of us were running like hell. We finished up down embankments, on to railway lines with dogs chasing us. | |
| "People were seriously injured and I mean seriously injured, and left by the police. | |
| "That's not helping, that's attacking, and we were attacked." | |
| The watchdog's decision follows a two-year "scoping exercise" during which thousands of documents, film and photographs were analysed. | The watchdog's decision follows a two-year "scoping exercise" during which thousands of documents, film and photographs were analysed. |
| Ms Green said she accepted there were "concerns about some of the actions of individual officers" but said it was difficult to go back and apply current thinking and standards to the events at Orgreave. | Ms Green said she accepted there were "concerns about some of the actions of individual officers" but said it was difficult to go back and apply current thinking and standards to the events at Orgreave. |
| "If this happened now, absolutely the IPCC would be investigating it," she said."But what we can't do is wind back time to go back 30 years and redo what perhaps should have been done then." | "If this happened now, absolutely the IPCC would be investigating it," she said."But what we can't do is wind back time to go back 30 years and redo what perhaps should have been done then." |
| What is your reaction to the decision not to hold an investigation? What are your memories of the clashes? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | What is your reaction to the decision not to hold an investigation? What are your memories of the clashes? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number when emailing us your details. | If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number when emailing us your details. |