Former West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison.
Former West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison.
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Liverpool Council has joined the chorus of voices calling for Norman Bettison to be stripped of his knighthood and police pension. Earlier this week it was revealed how the former chief constable of Merseyside Police – who had been a chief inspector in South Yorkshire Police (SYP) at the time of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 – would have faced a gross misconduct case if still a serving officer for his role in what happened 36 years ago.
The wide-ranging report brought together the findings from years of investigations by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and Operation Resolve – the criminal investigation into the disaster in Sheffield on April 15 1989 which led to the unlawful killing of 97 Liverpool fans. It concluded South Yorkshire Police failed in its planning for the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest – and in how it dealt with traumatised supporters and families who were desperately searching for their loved ones before officers attempted to deflect blame for the disaster onto Reds supporters.
After calls from the Hillsborough families and Parliamentarians, members of Liverpool Council have unanimously supported a motion calling for Bettinson to be removed of his knighthood, awarded in 2006 for services to policing. City councillors said he was “unfit” to hold such an honour and should also be relieved of his police pension.
The report released on Tuesday stated a number of high ranking officers – including former SYP chief constable Peter Wright, match commander on the day David Duckenfield and Bettison – would have faced gross misconduct cases if they were still serving officers today.
In 1998, Bettison left West Yorkshire Police to become the chief constable of the Merseyside force in a move that was strongly opposed by a number of families of those who died at Hillsborough.
He was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for distinguished service in the Millennium Honours List and received a Knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to policing in 2006. He retired in 2013.
Criminal charges against Bettison over his role in the aftermath of the disaster were dropped in 2018.
Ian Byrne, Labour MP for West Derby and disaster survivor, wrote to cabinet office minister Nick Thomas Symonds requesting the honours be removed.
He has also laid down an Early Day Motion in Parliament, urging the Prime Minister to recommend to the King that Bettison’s knighthood be withdrawn. Hillsborough families have backed the efforts, with Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram also urging the government to act.
In a motion laid down last night, city councillors instructed chief executive Andrew Lewis to make their voices heard. It said: “Council strongly believes that Sir Norman Bettison is unfit to hold a knighthood and this honour should be forfeited at the earliest possible opportunity.
“Council also believes that consideration should be given to removal of his police pension. Council requests that the Chief Executive of the Council write to the Cabinet Office to urge them to: (i) withdraw Sir Norman Bettison’s knighthood, in light of the IOPC findings, on the basis that he is not worthy to hold this title and in order to preserve the integrity of the honours system.
"(ii) Take steps to remove his police pension.”