Orgreave inquiry launched to 'uncover truth' behind clashes at 1984 miners' strike
One hundred and twenty people were injured in the violent confrontation on 18 June 1984, outside a coal processing factory in Orgreave, South Yorkshire.
Five thousand miners clashed with an equal number of armed and mounted police during a day of fighting.
Police used horse charges, riot shields and batons against the picketers, even as some were retreating.
In the aftermath, miners were blamed for the violence in what campaigners believe was an institutional "frame-up".
"There were so many lies," says Chris Peace, from campaign group Orgreave Truth and Justice, "and it's a real historic moment to get to this stage."
"There's a lot of information already in the public domain," she adds, "but there's still some papers that are embargoed, which will hopefully now be brought to light."
Although dozens of miners were arrested, trials against them all collapsed due to allegations of unreliable police evidence.
Campaigners say some involved have been left with "physical and psychological damage", but until now, previous governments have refused calls for a public inquiry.
Launching the inquiry today, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told Sky Newsi that she wanted to "make sure" campaigners now got "proper answers".
"We've obviously had unanswered questions about what happened at Orgreave for over 40 years," Ms Cooper says, "and when we were elected to government, we determined to take this forward."
The inquiry will be a statutory one, meaning that witnesses will be compelled to come and give evidence, and chaired by the Bishop of Sheffield, Pete Wilcox.
"I'm really happy," says Carl Parkinson, a former miner who was at Orgreave on the day of the clash, "but why has it took so long?"
"A lot of those colleagues and close friends have passed away, and they'll never get to see any outcome."
Mr Parkinson and Chris Skidmore, who was also there that day, were among the group of campaigners informed first-hand by Ms Cooper about the public inquiry at the Orgreave site.
"It wasn't frightening to start off with," Mr Skidmore remembers of the day itself, "but then what I noticed was the amount of police officers who had no identification numbers on. It all felt planned."
"And it wasn't just one truncheon," says Mr Parkinson, "there were about 30, or 40. And it was simultaneous, like it was orchestrated - just boom, boom, boom, boom.
"And there's lads with a split down their heads for no good reason, they'd done nothing wrong. We were just there to peacefully picket."
In the intervening years, South Yorkshire Police have paid more than £400,000 in compensation to affected miners and their families.
But no official inquiry has ever looked at the documents surrounding the day's events, the lead-up to it and the aftermath.
"We need to have trust and confidence restored in the police," says South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, "and part of that is about people, like this campaign, getting the justice that they deserve.
"Obviously, we've had things like Hillsborough, CSE [Child Sexual Exploitation] in Rotherham, and we want to turn the page."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
27 minutes ago
- The Independent
Why are protesters targeting a hotel in Essex?
Over 500 protesters gathered outside a hotel in Essex which houses asylum seekers on Sunday, with police condemning scenes which descended into 'mindless thuggery.' Six arrests were made following the violence, as participants injured a police officer and damaged a police vehicle outside the hotel in Epping. Essex Police say teams are still searching for three individuals in connection with the unrest. Footage from the scenes on Sunday shows rioters attacking police vans, with one man struck by a vehicle which was attempting to navigate the crowds. Later in the evening, two security guards working the Bell Hotel were also attacked at a bus stop, and are recovering in hospital. The attacked is being treated as a racist hate crime. The events marked the third time in a week that violent scenes unfolded outside the Bell Hotel, which is being used to temporarily house asylum seekers. Chief Supt Simon Anslow said: 'Disappointingly we have seen yet another protest, which begun peacefully, escalate into mindless thuggery with individuals again hurting one of our officers and damaging a police vehicle. 'For anyone who thinks we will tolerate their thuggery – think again.' Reports have varied as to the cause of the violence. Here is everything we know: Why did the protest happen? The events were organised in response to the arrest of an asylum seeker who was later charged with sexual offences against a teenager and adult in the town, eight days after arriving to the UK via boat. Hadush Kebatu, 38, from Ethiopia, denies the allegations and remains in custody. He is charged with three counts of sexual assault, alongside inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and harassment without violence. On Thursday 10 July, Essex Police confirmed that the man had been arrested after being alerted to 'reports of a man acting inappropriately towards a teenager.' The initial protest on Sunday 13 July was sparked after Mr Kebatu was charged. Reports indicate that most of those in attendance at the protest were local people concerned about this incident and the location of the asylum accommodation. Signs reading 'Protect Our Kids' could be seen in the crowds during the hours that the protest was peaceful, with families in attendance with their children. Epping Forest District Council has called on the Home Office to close asylum seeker hotels, including the Bell Hotel. Following the disruption, council leader Chris Whitbread repeated concerns that its location is 'entirely unsuitable.' He added: 'I am deeply disappointed that during the demonstration outside the Bell Hotel in Epping on Thursday night, some individuals chose to engage in violent and disruptive behaviour. 'I condemn their actions. They not only undermined their message but also put fellow protesters, police officers and residents at risk.' Were the far-right involved? Experts from far-right research group Hope Not Hate say this series of gatherings which began with largely peaceful intent were co-opted by actors intent on causing violence. Several prominent members of the far-right were in attendance at the protest, analysis by the group's Right Response Team found, with figurehead Tommy Robinson drawing attention to the initial protest on Sunday. Footage and photography from Thursday and Sunday's events show people with links to groups such as the British National Party (BNP), Britain First, Patriotic Alternative and neo-nazi group Blood & Honour all in attendance. The Bell Hotel has regularly attracted anti-migrant protests organised by groups such as these since 2020, Hope Not Hate explains, with actors capitalising on the recent concern to reignite racial tensions. A report from the group reads: 'The events in Epping are a symptom of a recurring trend within the far right: co-opting the high emotions of local people to whip up hatred, pushing what could have been a peaceful protest towards violent disorder. 'The individuals engaging in violence are not representative of the people of Epping, who are understandably angry following the assault of a local girl. 'Instead, they sow division in the local area, which does nothing to assist the victims of sexual abuse.'
The Independent
27 minutes ago
- The Independent
Former Tory MP appears in court charged with having false passport
A former Conservative MP has appeared in court accused of having a false passport during the time she was sitting in Parliament. Katie Wallis, 41, of Butetown, Cardiff, the MP for Bridgend in South Wales from 2019 to 2024, became the first openly transgender MP in the House of Commons in 2022. Wallis, who uses female pronouns and was previously known as Jamie, appeared before Cardiff Crown Court on Monday representing herself. The charge was not read out in court, but the defendant previously appeared in Cardiff Magistrates' Court accused of having a false passport 'without reasonable excuse'. Wallis was alleged to be in possession of the document in April 2022, while she was still serving as a Conservative MP. Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, adjourned the hearing for Wallis to either seek legal representation or make an informed decision on representing herself. The judge said: 'I'm going to adjourn this for a short period of time to enable you to decide whether you want to get at least some initial advice.' Wallis will next appear on August 15. Wallis, who appeared in court wearing a pink jacket, was released on bail until the next hearing.
The Independent
27 minutes ago
- The Independent
Long-term triple lock commitment ‘out of scope' of pensions commission
A long-term commitment to the triple lock on pensions is not in the scope of the resurrected Pensions Commission, Liz Kendall has said. The Work and Pensions Secretary has announced that she is reviving the commission, which last met in 2006, to tackle the issue of working age adults failing to put enough money into their retirement savings. Experts have warned that people looking to retire in 2050 are on course to receive £800 per year less than current pensioners. The commission is expected to provide recommendations for how to boost retirement income in 2027. Ms Kendall also confirmed that the next statutory Government review into when and how to raise the state pension age will start work now. 'Unless we act, tomorrow's pensioners will be poorer than today's, because people who are saving aren't saving enough for their retirement,' she said during a speech launching the commission. Lowering the age and earnings threshold at which people are brought into auto-enrolment and as well as looking at easy-access 'sidecar' savings accounts will be among the options the commission looks into. Ms Kendall was asked if she thought it was impossible to maintain the triple lock guarantee given its cost and if she could guarantee it would be in Labour's next manifesto. She said: 'The triple lock is out of scope of the commission. We've got a very clear commitment to that for the entirety of this Parliament. 'And what we're asking the commission to do is genuinely look medium to longer term, the middle of this century, and how the state pension and second pensions work together.' The Office for Budget Responsibility recently said that the triple lock has already cost three times more than initially expected and suggested it was unaffordable in the long term. Ms Kendall was also asked about the potential hit to small businesses from increased automatic enrolment costs. 'I want our small businesses to be successful, but it is also the case, you know, flag forward to the middle of the century, 2050, if we don't act, the amount of pensioner poverty we face will cost everybody if we don't act,' she said. She said she was 'under no illusions about how difficult this will be'. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said 45% of working-age adults were putting nothing into their pensions. The previous pensions commission recommended automatically enrolling people in workplace pensions, which has seen the number of eligible employees saving rise from 55% in 2012 to 88%. DWP analysis suggested 15 million people were under-saving for retirement, with the self-employed, low-paid and some ethnic minorities particularly affected. Around three million self-employed people are said to be saving nothing for their retirement, while only a quarter of people on low pay in the private sector and the same proportion from Pakistani or Bangladeshi backgrounds are saving. Women face a significant gender pensions gap, with those approaching retirement in line to receive barely half the income that men can expect.
