Decision expected today on Orgreave inquiry

Home Secretary Amber Rudd is expected to give her decision during this afternoon’s Home Office questions session at the House of Commons on whether a public inquiry will be organised to examine the events on June 18, 1984, when police and pickets clashed outside the Orgreave Coking plant near Rotherham.

Ms Rudd had said after meeting members of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign last month that she would make a decision by the end of October.

Ten months ago, the campaign group — supported by high-profile campaigning lawyers — submitted their legal case for an independent probe to then-home secretary Theresa May.

Campaigners want to see a Hillsborough panel-type inquiry with miners’ groups or OTJC members on the investigation group.

Miners from across Rotherham were picketing at Orgreave on June 18, 1984, when trouble flared, with police clashing with striking miners who had come from across Rotherham to protest outside the coking plant.

Police arrested 95 pickets and charged 71 with riot and 24 with violent disorder but their trials collapsed due to concern over the reliability of police evidence.

In 1991, 39 miners were paid  £425,000 in compensation for assault, wrongful arrest, unlawful detention and malicious prosecution.