Latest news with #Orgreave
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Orgreave papers destroyed by police thought to include report on notorious truncheon beating
Documents destroyed by police relating to operations at Orgreave during the miners' strike in 1984 are believed to include a report on a notorious incident in which an officer beat a man over the head with a truncheon. In the ITV News at 10 report on the violent scenes at Orgreave, the officer, PC Martin of Northumbria police, was seen hitting the miner, Russell Broomhead, several times with his truncheon. Northumbria police have been widely criticised since confirming that in April last year they destroyed two boxes of documents relating to the strike and the Orgreave operation. That was just months before a general election that the Labour party, which had a longstanding pledge to hold an inquiry into what happened at Orgreave, was expected to win. The timing led to accusations that the force had destroyed the documents to avoid scrutiny of its officers' actions. At the Orgreave coking plant on 18 June 1984 an estimated 8,000 miners assembled for a mass picket called by the National Union of Mineworkers, met by 4,500 police officers from forces nationwide, led by South Yorkshire police. The violence that took place, with police charging on horseback and hitting miners with truncheons, is remembered as a landmark confrontation of the bitter 1984-85 strike. A criminal prosecution of 95 miners for riot and unlawful assembly collapsed a year later after the miners' barristers repeatedly accused police officers of lying and malpractice. The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC) has for years called for an inquiry into the police operation and the failed prosecutions. Northumbria police previously confirmed that they held documents relevant to the policing at Orgreave, including a report by a superintendent who was the liaison officer for 92 officers sent to South Yorkshire. In 2016 Northumbria's then chief constable, Steve Ashman, wrote to Yvette Cooper, then the chair of the home affairs select committee, explaining that the superintendent's report detailed an incident involving a police constable. 'This officer was believed to have been involved in striking a 'picket' with his truncheon,' Ashman wrote. 'This incident is identified as been [sic] the subject of television news reporting … the superintendent's report details how [the PC] was 'reported' for the offence of assault to the director of public prosecutions (DPP). The report further outlines that the DPP subsequently decided there would be no criminal prosecution in the case.' Joe Diviney, a historian at the University of Sheffield who is researching a PhD on the Orgreave events, pointed out that this appeared clearly to be the PC Martin incident. Martin was identified, including in police documents, as the officer who struck Broomhead, and a report was sent to the DPP who decided, on the same day Martin was interviewed, not to bring charges. During an interview under caution, Martin denied wrongdoing, and said of the Orgreave policing: 'It's not a case of me going off half cock. The senior officers, supers and chief supers were there and getting stuck in too – they were encouraging the lads and I think their attitude to the situation affected what we all did.' Broomhead told the Guardian: 'I would still like truth and accountability for what happened. If something is wrong, it stays wrong. I never knew in all these years that a superintendent had written a report on the incident that involved me. It's unbelievable that the police can throw that document away, without asking me and people it affects.' Kate Flannery, secretary of the OTJC, said: 'It now seems highly likely that one of the documents destroyed by Northumbria police could relate to the PC Martin attack. Any destruction of important information relating to violent police attacks on striking miners means that crucial evidence is no longer available to an Orgreave inquiry. 'This all adds to the many concerns we have about police cover-ups and justice being denied.' A Northumbria police spokesperson said last month that the documents had been 'disposed of … in line with force policy and the Data Protection Act 2018'. After criticism, including by the Labour MP Ian Lavery, the force has since said it is investigating its own decision-making. 'We very much recognise the strength of feeling and concern within our communities at the disposal of information relating to the miners' strike,' a spokesperson said. 'We can confirm, we are carrying out an investigation into the circumstances around the disposal of the material.' The Archives and Records Association is calling for police documents to be preserved by law. The association's chair, Ruth MacLeod, said: 'Many people have no idea that police records, which are important for accountability, can be so easily destroyed. There needs to be legislation to protect them, and prevent the kind of destruction that has happened in Northumbria.'
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."
The Guardian
29-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
The government should act now to stop the police destruction of archived evidence
I had the privilege of representing two of the striking miners indicted for riot following events at the Orgreave coke plant near Sheffield in June 1984. In April last year, shortly before the election of a Labour party that was known to be promising a public inquiry, Northumbria police destroyed 'two boxes containing documents/records in relation to the miners' strike and Orgreave' (Northumbria police destroy Battle of Orgreave and other miners' strike files, 24 June). The force claims to have done so because the records 'were outside of the retention period' and that the destruction was 'in line with force policy and the Data Protection Act 2018'. It is not presently known if any of the other forces deployed at Orgreave have also destroyed documents. The 'authorised professional practice' issued by the College of Policing in 2023 in relation to review, retention and disposal of material that has 'historical value and enduring public interest' or which may be required 'for academic ... or statistical purposes' is that such material 'should be archived', irrespective of the fact that the retention period has expired. Moreover, the Data Protection Act and its regulations expressly allow for the retention of such material. The egregious examples of police misconduct on the day are now well-known. At trial it was finally conceded that a South Yorkshire detective had literally dictated the script to officers sitting at desks in what became known as 'the schoolroom'. An inquiry may further reveal the role of the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office. But not if police forces are simply allowed to unilaterally destroy the evidence in advance. The government should immediately act to prevent Rees KCLondon Government papers stored at the National Archives are sometimes withheld or weeded, but are an essential tool for research historians. It is disturbing to read that Northumbria police have destroyed files relating to Orgreave. This may have conformed with a document retention process, but Sherlock Holmes will not be required to work out why it happened just before the election of a government committed to an inquiry into the events that took place at Orgreave. Perhaps the home secretary could ensure that no further police files are destroyed before the inquiry takes place, if necessary by requiring copies to be lodged with the civil servants responsible for setting it up. A democratic society needs an accurate record of its history, even if it may be an uncomfortable one for Keith FlettLondon Socialist Historians Group Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
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.
