Demand for revocation of knighthood for Hillsborough chief inspector

Families affected by the Hillsborough disaster are urging for the knighthood of former Merseyside Police chief Sir Norman Bettison to be revoked, following a critical report on the 1989 stadium tragedy. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) released the report on Tuesday, revealing that 12 retired officers, including Sir Norman, would face gross misconduct charges under current regulations concerning the disaster.

Liverpool West Derby MP and Hillsborough survivor Ian Byrne described stripping Sir Norman of his knighthood as "the only remaining sanction left for families and survivors to pursue."

The IOPC report highlighted "fundamental failures" in policing and deliberate attempts to blame fans for the tragedy. It concluded that Sir Norman would have faced allegations of dishonesty related to his role during the disaster and for providing misleading statements to the media, particularly during his 1998 application for the Merseyside chief constable position.

Due to the law at the time, no disciplinary action can be taken, as all implicated officers had retired before IOPC investigations began in 2012. Sir Norman, now 69, retired in 2013.

In past statements, Sir Norman claimed that in the decade between the disaster and his application for chief constable, no one had questioned or criticized his actions. He also dismissed claims that the police authority was unaware of his involvement in post-disaster investigations, stating that relevant committees had been informed prior to his appointment.

Sir Norman received the Queen's Police Medal and a knighthood in 2006 for his services to policing. MP Ian Byrne has formally requested the Cabinet Office to consider revoking the honour, arguing that retaining it undermines the integrity of the honours system.

Jenni Hicks, who lost both daughters in the disaster, has publicly supported the campaign, describing Sir Norman as "dishonourable" and emphasizing that officers were able to retire early with full pensions without facing accountability.

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, often referred to as the Hillsborough Law, is progressing through Parliament. The legislation aims to ensure public bodies cooperate with investigations into major disasters and provide legal support to those affected.

Author: Sophia Brooks