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IPCC is wrong over Orgreave ruling IPCC is wrong over Orgreave ruling
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The Independent Police Complaints Commission’s decision not to mount a formal investigation into allegations of criminal wrongdoing against South Yorkshire Police (IPCC will not investigate Orgreave police action during miners’ strike, 12 June) is plain wrong. The reasons proffered by Ms Green – essentially those of the age of the allegations and the bureaucratic priorities of the IPCC – are wholly inconsistent with two “tests” informing public policy, which have become widely accepted and which the miners’ case clearly passes.The Independent Police Complaints Commission’s decision not to mount a formal investigation into allegations of criminal wrongdoing against South Yorkshire Police (IPCC will not investigate Orgreave police action during miners’ strike, 12 June) is plain wrong. The reasons proffered by Ms Green – essentially those of the age of the allegations and the bureaucratic priorities of the IPCC – are wholly inconsistent with two “tests” informing public policy, which have become widely accepted and which the miners’ case clearly passes.
The first, established especially in historic child abuse cases, is that action long after the event will be warranted where the alleged law-breaking is of a gravity to necessitate it. The mere efflux of time should not enable the guilty to escape justice. What we have in the policing of the miners’ strike are well documented and potentially justiciable allegations of grave criminal acts in circumstances involving alleged gross abuse of power by very agents of the state tasked with upholding the law and protecting those communities. The first, established especially in historic child abuse cases, is that action long after the event will be warranted where the alleged law-breaking is of a gravity to necessitate it. The mere efflux of time should not enable the guilty to escape justice. What we have in the policing of the miners’ strike are well documented and potentially justiciable allegations of grave criminal acts in circumstances involving alleged gross abuse of power by very agents of the state tasked with upholding the law and protecting those communities.
The second test, established through learning many painful lessons in our recent history, is the need for the facts of what happened in deeply contested public events to be established and then publicly acknowledged, not buried, by the British state. Where, as in the miners’ strike, communities have been traumatised by violent and profoundly divisive events, and left feeling traduced by press and media coverage at the time, there has to be a process of fact-finding and accountability before any reconciliation can be effected.   The second test, established through learning many painful lessons in our recent history, is the need for the facts of what happened in deeply contested public events to be established and then publicly acknowledged, not buried, by the British state. Where, as in the miners’ strike, communities have been traumatised by violent and profoundly divisive events, and left feeling traduced by press and media coverage at the time, there has to be a process of fact-finding and accountability before any reconciliation can be effected.
Related: Miners need answers on Orgreave strike policing | Letters
It is clearly in the wider public interest that such a process embraces all those communities left affected by the strike and any criminal behaviour involving the police. It is deeply unfortunate timing that the IPCC raises its white flag just after the re-election of a rightwing government with a similar anti-union policy agenda to that of the Thatcher government which sanctified the policing of the miners’ strike. This is reflected in its deliberately divisive bill designed to hobble the democratic ballot process underpinning union strike calls. The IPCC should demonstrate the substance of its proclaimed values of “justice, independence and integrity” by commissioning an independent and credible review of its decision, following the lead of Alison Saunders, director of public prosecutions, on the Janner case.It is clearly in the wider public interest that such a process embraces all those communities left affected by the strike and any criminal behaviour involving the police. It is deeply unfortunate timing that the IPCC raises its white flag just after the re-election of a rightwing government with a similar anti-union policy agenda to that of the Thatcher government which sanctified the policing of the miners’ strike. This is reflected in its deliberately divisive bill designed to hobble the democratic ballot process underpinning union strike calls. The IPCC should demonstrate the substance of its proclaimed values of “justice, independence and integrity” by commissioning an independent and credible review of its decision, following the lead of Alison Saunders, director of public prosecutions, on the Janner case.
The government should validate its “one nation” credentials by, first, assuring the IPCC it will get extra resources if it needs them to pursue the wrong-doers, and second by establishing a broader enquiry, following the Hillsborough panel model, where people from the mining communities denied a voice for over 30 years can be heard and an impartial assessment made of their grievances and how best they can be belatedly addressed.John CrawleySkipton, North YorkshireThe government should validate its “one nation” credentials by, first, assuring the IPCC it will get extra resources if it needs them to pursue the wrong-doers, and second by establishing a broader enquiry, following the Hillsborough panel model, where people from the mining communities denied a voice for over 30 years can be heard and an impartial assessment made of their grievances and how best they can be belatedly addressed.John CrawleySkipton, North Yorkshire