Probe promised into claims police doctored miners' strike statements

LABOUR’ S South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner candidate has promised to investigate claims that police officers were told what to say in statements about incidents during the miners’ strike.

Former Rotherham mayor Cllr Shaun Wright says that if he is elected, he will initiate an immediate review into allegations du to be aired in a special BBC Inside Out programme tonight.

The programme will allege that there was evidence of widespread collusion over statements made by about 100 officers involved in the dispute at the Orgreave Coke Works.

It is alleged that officers were asked to include in the statements, accounts of scenes which they had never seen.

Cllr Wright said: "The miners strike impacted upon thousands of families in South Yorkshire and these allegations will come as no surprise to many who witnessed what actually happened first hand only to see a different version of events appear in police officers' testimony.

"It now appears there is strong evidence to suggest officers' evidence was manipulated and someone was telling them what they should and shouldn't include in their statements. If this is true it shows an endemic problem with South Yorkshire Police throughout the 1980s.

"Quite rightly this is a hugely emotive issue in South Yorkshire, so the future credibility of our police is at stake, and that is why, if elected, I will launch a detailed review to get to the bottom of what happened.

"The miners, their families and South Yorkshire's communities who were hit so hard by these events at the time deserve nothing less, and frankly with this and the similar events in the Hillsborough aftermath a thorough review to find out the whole truth is now essential. I'm sure this would also be welcomed by South Yorkshire police officers serving today who are keen to have full public faith in our police force restored."

The election for the post of South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner will be held on November 15.

The other candidates are: David Allen (English Democrats); Jonathan Arnott (UKIP); Nivel Bonson (Conservative); Robert Teal (Liberal Democrat).

For more on information on the PCC election, visit choosemypcc.org.uk.

Inside Out will be shown in BBC1 at 7.30pm tonight

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