Latest news with #HillsboroughDisaster
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Singers in tribute to Hillsborough victims
Singer Tom Grennan paid tribute to the victims of 1989's Hillsborough disaster during his set at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool on Friday. The Little Bit of Love singer was joined on stage by the Spice Girls star Mel C. She wore a Liverpool FC shirt with the number nine on the back, while Tom's Everton top had the number seven. Together they stood side by side to make the number 97 - a tribute to the 97 Liverpool fans who lost their lives at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final. Announcing his special guest, Tom told the crowd: "Liverpool is her manor, so make sure you make the biggest noise when I say this name." The pair shared the spotlight as Mel C performed her 1998 hit When You're Gone, originally a duet with Bryan Adams. Taking a pause from the music, Grennan addressed the crowd about "uniting the city". Speaking to BBC Newsbeat ahead of his set, the Higher singer described "headlining the biggest weekend of the summer" as "pretty crazy". "It's been such a mad journey," he said. And on the collaboration with Mel C, he described her as "a superstar". "I've been friends with Mel for a while now and I just felt like we should do something special. "Thank God she said yes." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Tom Grennan lights up Liverpool for Radio 1's Big Weekend Radio 1's Big Weekend stage times and line-ups Radio 1's Big Weekend
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Mel C and Tom Grennan tribute to Hillsborough victims
Singer Tom Grennan paid tribute to the victims of 1989's Hillsborough disaster during his set at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool on Little Bit of Love singer was joined on stage by the Spice Girls star Mel wore a Liverpool FC shirt with the number nine on the back, while Tom's Everton top had the number they stood side by side to make the number 97 - a tribute to the 97 Liverpool fans who lost their lives at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final. Announcing his special guest, Tom told the crowd: "Liverpool is her manor, so make sure you make the biggest noise when I say this name." The pair shared the spotlight as Mel C performed her 1998 hit When You're Gone, originally a duet with Bryan a pause from the music, Grennan addressed the crowd about "uniting the city".Speaking to BBC Newsbeat ahead of his set, the Higher singer described "headlining the biggest weekend of the summer" as "pretty crazy"."It's been such a mad journey," he on the collaboration with Mel C, he described her as "a superstar"."I've been friends with Mel for a while now and I just felt like we should do something special."Thank God she said yes." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Times
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Unforgotten: The Bradford City Fire — a vital reminder of a football tragedy
If you asked people to name a British football catastrophe, most would probably cite the national scandal that was the Hillsborough disaster. The Bradford City fire tragedy happened four years earlier in 1985, leaving 56 people dead, but it is fading more from public memory. The feature-length Unforgotten: The Bradford City Fire (BBC2) was an impressive, forensic and enormously moving rejoinder to this, not only reminding us of the sheer horror of that day, May 11, when the main stand became a furnace, completely swallowed in flames in under four minutes, but also honouring the victims and the strength of the local community. It interviewed emergency responders and fans who survived the disaster, some of whom are clearly still traumatised 40 years on. It replayed
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New deputy mayor for policing and crime named
A former probation officer and senior civil servant is set to be named as deputy mayor of policing and crime for South Yorkshire. Kilvinder Vigurs has been selected by South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard as his preferred candidate for the role. Ms Vigurs began her career as a probation officer in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire and most recently has served as Regional Probation Director in Yorkshire and the Humber. She said: "I am absolutely committed to spending my first few weeks going out to talk to people. You can read things, but you can't feel the emotions people have." As Deputy Mayor, Ms Vigurs will work with Coppard to oversee and improve policing and criminal justice services, to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and to commission services to support victims and reduce offending. She will deliver the Police and Crime Plan, chair the Local Criminal Justice Board, chair the Safer Roads Partnership, and have close oversight of the Violence Reduction Unit. In recent months, South Yorkshire has made national headlines following rioting at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Manvers, near Rotherham, and the fatal stabbing of teenage school boy Harvey Willgoose. Ms Vigurs said: "The first thing I need to do is talk to communities and ascertain what they think. "We need to talk to parents whose children have been victims of knife crime, we need go out to the communities who are experiencing daily anti-social behaviour that makes their lives a misery. "Clearly the media headlines are the bad news but I also think there is some good news to be sharing as well." In her new role she will also need to deal with the legacy of South Yorkshire Police's handling of events at the Orgreave coking works in 1984, the Rotherham child sex abuse scandal and the Hillsborough Disaster. Ms Vigurs said she promised to keep talking to CSE survivors to "make sure lessons have been learned" and said she supported the calls for an inquiry into Orgreave. Another area for her to focus on is the "fundamental accounting error" which led to a £65m hole in South Yorkshire Police's finances, with Coppard saying the results of an inquiry into the matter set to be made public later this year. Coppard, who will remain accountable for all the functions of Police and Crime Commissioner, said: [Kilvinder's] wealth of experience, her priorities, her values and her sheer determination to help people will help to change South Yorkshire for the better." Ms Vigurs' appointment is subject to a confirmation hearing by the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel on Thursday 15 May Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North More on this story Related internet links
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What is tragedy chanting, as policeman is sacked for offence?
A police officer who admitted to 'tragedy chanting' at a Liverpool football match has been sacked and barred from policing, his force has confirmed. Sergeant Tyler Coppin, of Essex Police, previously pleaded guilty to the public order offence towards Liverpool fans at a Premier League match at Anfield against Chelsea last October. Coppin was given a three-year football banning order and ordered to pay £645 in fines and costs in December, Merseyside Police said. Essex Police, which then instigated misconduct proceedings against Coppin because of his conviction, confimed that he has been sacked and barred from policing. It comes as Leeds United and Millwall condemned 'tragedy chanting' that took place during Saturday's FA Cup tie between the two clubs at Elland Road. Yahoo News looks at what tragedy chanting is and what happens if you get caught doing it. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, tragedy chanting is when fans sing, chant or gesture offensive messages about disasters or accidents involving players or fans – including references to the Hillsborough Disaster, Munich Air Crash, Bradford Fire, Leeds fans killed in Istanbul, or the death of Emiliano Sala in a plane crash. People found guilty of tragedy chanting can be banned from matches, and be fined and ordered to pay compensation. In August 2023, the CPS said it had updated its prosecution guidance on football related offences to reconfirm that tragedy-related abuse could be prosecuted as a public order offence, setting out how lawyers could apply for Football Banning Orders to stop fans attending matches, as well as imposing restrictions, such as not being able to travel to certain areas, or be allowed in pubs at game time and travel during tournament times. At the time Douglas Mackay, from the CPS, said: 'A small minority of so-called fans are both damaging the reputation of the sport and more importantly this offending has a devastating impact on the families of victims of tragedies and the communities connected closely to these events." He said the updated guidance sent a "clear message that this vile behaviour will not be tolerated", adding: "We want supporters to passionately enjoy our national sport without crossing the line into criminality." After an FA Cup tie between Leeds United and Millwall at Elland Road on 8 February, both clubs were forced to condemn "vile" tragedy chanting relating to the murders of Leeds fans Kevin Speight and Christopher Loftus before a Uefa Cup semi-final at Galatasaray in 2000. A statement from Leeds said: "During today's FA Cup fourth-round tie with Millwall, we were extremely disappointed to hear vile chants relating to football tragedies from the away section at Elland Road. "We know the impact this has on the families of Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, along with the whole fanbase of Leeds United. "We will work with the police and Millwall Football Club to identify those involved, while we will also continue our efforts with the football authorities to help eradicate these chants from the game." Millwall also issued a statement, saying: "The club strongly condemns all forms of football tragedy abuse and is appalled to receive reports of such chanting from a minority at today's FA Cup fixture against Leeds United. "Both clubs have suffered tragic losses to their respective families in recent history. Chanting about this is entirely unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the club or the governing bodies. "It has no place in football and the club will work closely with Leeds United and authorities to identify those responsible. "We all have a duty to ensure Millwall Football Club is represented proudly and responsibly at all times." When the CPS announced it was updating its guidance in August 2023, Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham said: "Tragedy related abuse is completely unacceptable and has no place in our game. This behaviour is highly offensive and can have a lasting effect on the families, friends and communities who have been devastatingly impacted by these events." Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters added: 'We strongly believe there is no room for abhorrent tragedy abuse in football. Along with our clubs and the authorities, we are committed to sanctioning those found guilty and will also focus on educating fans of all ages, so they understand why this abuse is so hurtful and unacceptable.' In November of that year, the FA said it was working to address tragedy-related chanting, gesturing and displaying of abusive messages. It referred to education resources launched by the Premier League aimed at helping children understand the hurt and impact of behaviour like tragedy-related abuse, which included an in-classroom lesson made available to more than 18,000 primary schools and 60,000 teachers in England and Wales in November as part of the Premier League Primary Stars programme. The resource was supported by Liverpool supporter Margaret Aspinall, former Chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, whose son James died in the Hillsborough disaster. At the time she said: 'Football brings so much joy to so many people all over the world, but there is no need for people to be chanting in the way they do. The pain it causes is unbearable; we do not deserve to hear these chants, they hurt just as much as losing your child. If you hear that chanting, go to a steward, report it as, through the proper authorities, you can change things. Anything that offends or hurts anybody is never acceptable.' Coppin, of Essex Police, was given a three-year football banning order and ordered to pay £645 in fines after pleading guilty to tragedy chanting at a Premier League match at Anfield against Chelsea last October. A misconduct panel chaired by Essex Police Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington, held on 7 February, found Coppin had breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to honesty and integrity, authority, respect and courtesy and discreditable conduct. Harrington acknowledged Coppin's remorse and a previously unblemished policing career but found he would be dismissed from the force without notice and placed on the College of Policing barred list. He said: 'Ex-Sgt Coppin's dismissal is the result of a moment's serious stupidity, but this is the only appropriate outcome. 'It is clear that ex-Sgt Coppin was remorseful and may not have been aware of the impact of his words, but he has been criminally convicted of a public order offence. 'His actions will seriously undermine public trust and confidence and I must send a clear message to officers, staff and the wider public that behaviour such as this cannot and will not be tolerated in policing. 'If officers are responsible for upholding the law, it cannot be right that they break it.' Read more Arrests after 'tragedy chanting' at Liverpool vs Manchester United match (Manchester Evening News) Football's referee crisis: we asked thousands of refs about the abuse and violence that's driving them out of the game (The Conversation)
