Latest news with #IanLavery
ITV News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Northumbria Police expresses 'embarrassment' after destroying Miners' Strike files, says MP
An MP says Northumbria Police 'expressed their professional embarrassment' when he met with the force after it emerged they had destroyed records relating to the Miners' Strike and the 'Battle of Orgreave'. Labour's Ian Lavery, MP for Blyth & Ashington, posted on social media on Monday (30 June) to say he had met with representatives of the force. The meeting follows the revelation last week that Northumbria Police had disposed of two boxes containing data relating to its involvement in the year-long strike of 1984 and violence that erupted outside a coking plant in South Yorkshire. Northumbria Police has confirmed it is investigating the circumstances surrounding its destruction. Writing on X, Mr Lavery said" "On Friday afternoon I met with senior representatives of Northumbria Police having written to them following the discovery that files relating to the policing of Orgreave and the Miners' Strike had been destroyed last year. "We spoke frankly about the mistrust that this will have caused many in mining communities up and down the country, including those here in South East Northumberland and about the need for the investigation into the matter to be transparent. "The Police acknowledged this and expressed their professional embarrassment that these documents had been destroyed and assured me that an investigation had already begun to understand the decision making behind the actions. "I look forward to further correspondence from them and in the meantime will continue to press the government for the inquiry into the policing of the full dispute that has been needed for so long." A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: "We can confirm there is an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disposal of the material."
North Wales Chronicle
26-06-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Police's disposal of miners' strike documents ‘deeply worrying'
Information related to the so-called Battle of Orgreave is said to be among the two boxes which were disposed of by the force in April 2024. Lucy Powell said anyone involved in the strikes 'must retain the records' and come forward with information when asked to, after Labour MP Ian Lavery raised concerns in the Commons. In its manifesto, the Labour Party pledged to ensure, through an investigation or inquiry, 'that the truth about the events at Orgreave comes to light'. The violent confrontation in June 1984 outside a coking plant in Orgreave, South Yorkshire, led to many miners being injured and arrested, although their trials later collapsed. Speaking during business questions, Mr Lavery said it was 'extremely disturbing news that Northumbria Police has destroyed all documents relating to the miners' strike, including Orgreave'. The MP for Blyth and Ashington said: 'It is absolutely alarming. 'The Labour Government have pledged an inquiry through investigation into these events, yet the wanton destruction of this vital and critical evidence has been allowed to happen. 'Is this a sinister attempt to obscure justice? I'm not sure if anybody is prepared to answer that question. 'Who gave the permission to destroy these documents and what's behind it? 'Can we have an urgent debate into how the Government can instruct all police forces, all authorities, everyone that holds any detail on the miners' strike and on Orgreave (to) make sure that they retain and maintain that evidence, for when the Labour Government maintains its pledge for an inquiry into the events that happened in 1984. 'Because justice cannot be served if the evidence is systematically and deliberately destroyed.' Ms Powell replied: 'This sounds like a deeply, deeply worrying development in this case, and I am sure the whole House will be shocked to hear it. 'He has campaigned for justice and for answers in relation to what happened at Orgreave, 41 years ago, raised it with me last week. I will continue to raise that with ministers on his behalf. 'And I would join him in saying to people, anyone involved, that they must retain the records and they must come forward, as they would be expected to do when those questions are asked, with every bit of information they've got on what happened.' News of the destroyed boxes came to light following a freedom of information request from Joe Diviney, a PhD researcher at the University of Sheffield, the Guardian reports. A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: 'We can confirm two boxes containing data in relation to the miners' strike were disposed of in April 2024 following a formal review, retain or disposal process in line with force policy and the Data Protection Act 2018.'
Leader Live
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Police's disposal of miners' strike documents ‘deeply worrying'
Information related to the so-called Battle of Orgreave is said to be among the two boxes which were disposed of by the force in April 2024. Lucy Powell said anyone involved in the strikes 'must retain the records' and come forward with information when asked to, after Labour MP Ian Lavery raised concerns in the Commons. In its manifesto, the Labour Party pledged to ensure, through an investigation or inquiry, 'that the truth about the events at Orgreave comes to light'. The violent confrontation in June 1984 outside a coking plant in Orgreave, South Yorkshire, led to many miners being injured and arrested, although their trials later collapsed. Speaking during business questions, Mr Lavery said it was 'extremely disturbing news that Northumbria Police has destroyed all documents relating to the miners' strike, including Orgreave'. The MP for Blyth and Ashington said: 'It is absolutely alarming. 'The Labour Government have pledged an inquiry through investigation into these events, yet the wanton destruction of this vital and critical evidence has been allowed to happen. 'Is this a sinister attempt to obscure justice? I'm not sure if anybody is prepared to answer that question. 'Who gave the permission to destroy these documents and what's behind it? 'Can we have an urgent debate into how the Government can instruct all police forces, all authorities, everyone that holds any detail on the miners' strike and on Orgreave (to) make sure that they retain and maintain that evidence, for when the Labour Government maintains its pledge for an inquiry into the events that happened in 1984. 'Because justice cannot be served if the evidence is systematically and deliberately destroyed.' Ms Powell replied: 'This sounds like a deeply, deeply worrying development in this case, and I am sure the whole House will be shocked to hear it. 'He has campaigned for justice and for answers in relation to what happened at Orgreave, 41 years ago, raised it with me last week. I will continue to raise that with ministers on his behalf. 'And I would join him in saying to people, anyone involved, that they must retain the records and they must come forward, as they would be expected to do when those questions are asked, with every bit of information they've got on what happened.' News of the destroyed boxes came to light following a freedom of information request from Joe Diviney, a PhD researcher at the University of Sheffield, the Guardian reports. A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: 'We can confirm two boxes containing data in relation to the miners' strike were disposed of in April 2024 following a formal review, retain or disposal process in line with force policy and the Data Protection Act 2018.'
The Independent
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Police's disposal of miners' strike documents ‘deeply worrying'
Northumbria Police's decision to dispose of documents relating to the miners' strike is 'deeply worrying', the Commons Leader has said. Information related to the so-called Battle of Orgreave is said to be among the two boxes which were disposed of by the force in April 2024. Lucy Powell said anyone involved in the strikes 'must retain the records' and come forward with information when asked to, after Labour MP Ian Lavery raised concerns in the Commons. In its manifesto, the Labour Party pledged to ensure, through an investigation or inquiry, 'that the truth about the events at Orgreave comes to light'. The violent confrontation in June 1984 outside a coking plant in Orgreave, South Yorkshire, led to many miners being injured and arrested, although their trials later collapsed. Speaking during business questions, Mr Lavery said it was 'extremely disturbing news that Northumbria Police has destroyed all documents relating to the miners' strike, including Orgreave'. The MP for Blyth and Ashington said: 'It is absolutely alarming. 'The Labour Government have pledged an inquiry through investigation into these events, yet the wanton destruction of this vital and critical evidence has been allowed to happen. 'Is this a sinister attempt to obscure justice? I'm not sure if anybody is prepared to answer that question. 'Who gave the permission to destroy these documents and what's behind it? 'Can we have an urgent debate into how the Government can instruct all police forces, all authorities, everyone that holds any detail on the miners' strike and on Orgreave (to) make sure that they retain and maintain that evidence, for when the Labour Government maintains its pledge for an inquiry into the events that happened in 1984. 'Because justice cannot be served if the evidence is systematically and deliberately destroyed.' Ms Powell replied: 'This sounds like a deeply, deeply worrying development in this case, and I am sure the whole House will be shocked to hear it. 'He has campaigned for justice and for answers in relation to what happened at Orgreave, 41 years ago, raised it with me last week. I will continue to raise that with ministers on his behalf. 'And I would join him in saying to people, anyone involved, that they must retain the records and they must come forward, as they would be expected to do when those questions are asked, with every bit of information they've got on what happened.' News of the destroyed boxes came to light following a freedom of information request from Joe Diviney, a PhD researcher at the University of Sheffield, the Guardian reports. A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: 'We can confirm two boxes containing data in relation to the miners' strike were disposed of in April 2024 following a formal review, retain or disposal process in line with force policy and the Data Protection Act 2018.'
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Northumbria Police destruction of Orgreave strike file 'worrying'
A police force's disposal of documents relating to the miners' strike is "deeply worrying", the leader of the House of Commons has about the so-called Battle of Orgreave is said to be among the two boxes which were disposed of by Northumbria Police in April 2024, with the force saying it was acting in line with data protection Powell said anyone involved in the strikes "must retain the records" and provide information when demanded after north-east England Labour MP Ian Lavery raised violent clash in June 1984 outside a coking plant in Orgreave, South Yorkshire, led to many miners being injured and arrested, although their trials later collapsed. In its manifesto, Labour pledged to ensure, through an investigation or inquiry, that "the truth about the events at Orgreave comes to light".Thousands of miners were bussed to the coking works on 18 June 1984 by the National Union of Mineworkers, where they were met by an estimated 6,000 police officers from across the country. At least 120 miners and police officers were injured in the violence. Ninety-five picketers were arrested. 'Who gave permission to destroy?' Speaking during business questions, Lavery, MP for Blyth and Ashington, said it was "extremely disturbing news" that Northumbria Police had "destroyed all documents relating to the miners' strike, including Orgreave".He said: "The Labour government have pledged an inquiry through investigation into these events, yet the wanton destruction of this vital and critical evidence has been allowed to happen."Is this a sinister attempt to obscure justice? I'm not sure if anybody is prepared to answer that question."Who gave the permission to destroy these documents and what's behind it?" Lavery called for an "urgent debate" into how the government could instruct all police forces, local authorities and anyone with details about the miners strike and on Orgreave to retain their records."Justice cannot be served if the evidence is systematically and deliberately destroyed," he Powell replied: "This sounds like a deeply, deeply worrying development in this case, and I am sure the whole House will be shocked to hear it."She called on anyone involved to retain their records related to the violence. News of the destroyed boxes came to light following a freedom of information request from Joe Diviney, a PhD researcher at the University of Sheffield, which was initially reported in the Guardian.A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "We can confirm two boxes containing data in relation to the miners' strike were disposed of in April 2024 following a formal review, retain or disposal process in line with force policy and the Data Protection Act 2018." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
