Police boss suspended after Hillsborough probe findings
The chief constable of South Yorkshire Police has been suspended in the wake of the Hillsborough inquest findings.
On Tuesday, David Crompton admitted the force got the policing of the match “catastrophically wrong” and “unequivocally” accepted the inquest jury’s conclusions.
His suspension comes after the jury found that 96 Liverpool fans were unlawfully killed.
South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings said he had no choice but to act “based on the erosion of public trust and confidence”.
Dr Billings said: “I have been left with no choice other than to suspend David from his duties as chief constable of South Yorkshire police.
“I have reached this decision with a heavy heart following discussions with David both in the run-up to and following the delivery of the Hillsborough verdicts.
“My decision is based on the erosion of public trust and confidence referenced in statements and comments in the House of Commons this lunchtime, along with public calls for the chief constable’s resignation from a number of quarters.”
His announcement came after shadow home secretary Andy Burnham, who has long campaigned for justice for the Hillsborough victims, called for the chief constable’s resignation in the House of Commons.
Burnham also called for all those responsible to be held to account for the 96 unlawful deaths and a “27-year cover-up”.
He said the jury’s conclusions had finally brought justice and there were three reasons why “something so obvious” took 27 years to establish.
He said: “First, a police force (South Yorkshire) which has consistently put protecting itself above protecting people harmed by Hillsborough.
“Second, collusion between that force and complicit print media.
“Third, a flawed judicial system that gives the upper hand to those in authority over and above ordinary people.”
He said that South Yorkshire Police had gone back on its 2012 public apology following the release of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report and engaged in an “adversarial battle” at the fresh inquests.
Dr Billings said the new chief constable would need to be “strong and focused”, with an “emphasis” on building the trust and confidence of the public.
He acknowledged that there was “clearly a difference of perception” between Mr Crompton and the families of the victims in relation to questions being asked with regard to whether the fans were to blame.
“My understanding was that the barristers acting for South Yorkshire Police, ie the chief constable, would not be pursuing any aggressive questioning of the chief constable, the kind that I know the families would find distressing.
“So I probably will revisit that and have a look at what some of the allegations are that have been made, what they centre on,” he said.
Responding to calls for the force to be disbanded, Dr Billings said it was “too big a step”.
