UK will hold inquiry into violent Orgeave clash between police and miners during bitter 1984 strike
Some 120 miners and police were hurt when officers clashed with miners trying to stop trucks entering the Orgreave Coking Plant in northern England on June 18, 1984. It came three months into a nationwide strike over plans to close two dozen coal pits and lay of 20,000 miners.
The bitter dispute between the National Union of Mineworkers and the government was a decisive moment in Thatcher's bid to break the power of trade unions and remake the U.K. economy along free-market lines. The strike ended in defeat for the miners after a year and hastened the end of British coal mining, which employed 180,000 people at the start of the strike. Today, no coal mines remain.
Campaigners have long called for an inquiry into why police from across the country were sent to Orgreave and what their orders were. Images of mounted police in riot gear charging stone-throwing miners with truncheons and dogs shocked and divided the nation.
Some 95 picketers were arrested and charged with riot and violent disorder, but all charges were later dropped after evidence from the police was discredited.
The Home Office said the inquiry will be led by Pete Wilcox, the bishop of Sheffield, and start in the fall. It will have the power to compel witnesses to testify under oath.
Kate Flannery, secretary of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, said the announcement of an inquiry was 'really positive news.' She said it must be given 'unrestricted access to all relevant information including government, police and media documents, photos and films.'
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the events at Orgreave 'cast a shadow over communities in Yorkshire and other mining areas.
'The violent scenes and subsequent prosecutions raised concerns that have been left unanswered for decades, and we must now establish what happened,' she said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘Serious and systemic failures' at Oakhill youth jail prompt Government action
The Government has promised urgent reforms at Oakhill Secure Training Centre after inspectors uncovered 'serious and systemic failures' putting children at risk. Youth justice minister Sir Nic Dakin described the findings as 'truly shocking and unacceptable' following an inspection that led Ofsted, the CQC (Care Quality Commission) and HMI Prisons to issue an urgent notification to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Inspectors found safeguarding systems in disarray, a fractured leadership team, and 30 staff suspended since November 2024 – 23 of them before mid-July this year, including 16 over allegations involving children. Sir Nic said: 'This is a truly shocking and unacceptable report. 'I have already visited Oakhill Secure Training Centre this week to ensure urgent action is being taken by G4S to prioritise the safety of the young people in their custody, and to further address the very serious concerns raised by Ofsted and the chief inspector. 'We will publish an action plan within the month to support them further in these efforts – and will not hesitate to take further action if needed.' Inspectors said Oakhill, in Milton Keynes, is no longer child-centred and found staff conduct to be of 'significant concern'. One deputy director has been dismissed, while the other and the centre's director are suspended. An interim director and new deputy have started work but have had 'limited opportunity' to make an impact. In response, G4S has appointed an interim director, and all staff implicated in allegations have been suspended. Concerns have been reported to local authorities, statutory bodies and the police where necessary. Each child's placement is now being reviewed, with the option to reduce the number of children at the centre if required. A governing governor has been also installed to provide additional oversight, alongside another appointed to lead on the urgent notification process. The Ministry of Justice said a full action plan would be published within 28 days. The inspection, carried out between July 21 and 25, follows years of concerns about the centre. Oakhill was rated inadequate at its last full inspection in October 2024 and has not received a rating higher than 'requires improvement' since 2017. The urgent notification process was introduced in 2017 to allow inspectors to trigger immediate action in cases of serious failure. It comes amid wider concerns about the youth custody estate, with MPs warning in a recent report that delays to secure schools and centre closures have left vulnerable children – particularly girls – in 'unsafe conditions'. The Public Accounts Committee said the system was 'totally unsuited' to meeting children's complex needs and warned that custody numbers are expected to more than double by 2024. Dame Meg Hillier, who chairs the committee, said the Government lacked a coherent strategy for youth custody and urged ministers to 'get a grip'.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Man, 76, Arrested Over Alleged Summer Camp Poisoning as 8 Children Are Hospitalized After Falling Ill: Police
The man remains in custody after the children, who have since been discharged from the hospital, became unwellNEED TO KNOW Eight children were hospitalized while attending a summer camp in England after they were allegedly poisoned A 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion that he was involved in the poisoning He remains in custody; however, the ill children have since been discharged from the hospitalAn elderly man was arrested after eight children fell ill at a summer camp in England and were taken to the hospital, police said. On Sunday, July 27, Leicestershire Police responded to a report made by a third party "concerning children feeling unwell at a summer camp in Canal Lane" in the U.K. village of Stathern, per a news release. "Following the report, officers were deployed along with the East Midlands Ambulance Service to safeguard those children concerned," police said, confirming that "all children present at the camp" had since been assessed. "Following an initial assessment, eight children were taken to hospital as a precaution and have all since been discharged," the release stated. Police confirmed officers had "contacted the parents or guardians of those children who were taken to hospital," adding that a suspect had been arrested on suspicion of poisoning. "A 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of administering poison/a noxious thing with intent to injure/aggrieve/annoy. He remains in custody at this time," the release — shared on Thursday, July 31 — stated. Local Detective Inspector Neil Holden, the senior investigating officer on the case, said: 'We understand the concern this incident will have caused to parents, guardians and the surrounding community," per the release. 'We are in contact with the parents and guardians of all children concerned," he added. 'Please be reassured that we have several dedicated resources deployed and are working with partner agencies including children's services to ensure full safeguarding is provided to the children involved." 'We also remain at the scene to carry out enquiries into the circumstances of what has happened and to continue to provide advice and support in the area," Holden went on. 'This is a complex and sensitive investigation and we will continue to provide updates to both parents and guardians and the public as and when we can," he concluded. The investigation is now being led by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit's Major Incident Team (MIT), police confirmed, adding that this will allow for "a full and thorough investigation to take place with dedicated resources." Further inquiries are being carried out by authorities "to establish the circumstances of the incident as well as providing reassurance to families affected as well as the local community," the release noted. The post also said, "Due to the circumstances of the initial police response, the force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)," referencing the public body that oversees police complaints in the U.K. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. An IOPC spokesperson said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE, 'We received a conduct referral on Tuesday (29 July) from Leicestershire Police relating to their handling of concerns passed to them over the wellbeing of a group of children." 'Our assessment team has examined all available evidence and concluded the matter should be independently investigated by the IOPC," they added. 'The investigation will look at whether there were any breaches of professional behaviour – namely a failure to carry out duties and responsibilities – that resulted in a delay in Leicestershire Police's response to what was later declared a critical incident," the statement concluded. Per the BBC, the children who fell ill had been attending camp at Stathern Lodge. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
West Ham's Paqueta cleared of betting charges
West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been cleared of spot-fixing charges by an independent regulatory commission, the club announced on Thursday. The Brazilian international was charged with four alleged breaches of FA rules in relation to matches involving the Premier League side. It was alleged that the 27-year-old directly sought to influence matches by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for the "improper purpose of affecting the betting market". He denied the charges and the independent regulatory commission found the charges not proven following a hearing. The Football Association said two charges against Paqueta related to a failure to cooperate with its investigation had been found proven. It said a commission would decide on an appropriate sanction for those proven breaches "at the earliest opportunity". The Brazilian said in a statement issued by West Ham that he had always maintained his "innocence against these extremely serious accusations". West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady said: "We are pleased Lucas has been cleared. He has maintained his innocence from the outset, and as a club we have resolutely stood by him and supported him throughout the process." jw/nf
