Agenda item

“This Council condemns the Home Secretary’s rejection on 31st October 2016 in Parliament of an Orgreave Inquiry as a grave injustice.

This Council is appalled by the decision not to hold an inquiry into the policing of picket lines at the Orgreave coking plant 18th June 1984 Miners’ Strike.  With this ruling, the Home Secretary has shown great contempt for the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, many former miners, their families and communities who for more than 32 years have waited for the truth and who have displayed huge courage and tenacity in trying to hold the authorities to account. Fighting for those locally who worked at Askern, Barnburgh, Bentley, Brodsworth, Cadeby and Denaby, Hatfield, Markham Main, Rossington and Yorkshire Main.

This Council observes that even the Independent Police Complaints Commission said in their redacted report released June 2015 "that there was ‘evidence of excessive violence by police officers, a false narrative from police exaggerating violence by miners, perjury by officers giving evidence to prosecute the arrested men, and an apparent cover-up of that perjury by senior officers’.

This Council is astonished that in the light of such statements the Home Secretary concludes that there are few lessons to be learned by the current police forces from any review of these events, that no one died, there was no miscarriage of justice, no convictions and therefore there will be no inquiry.

This Council notes that 95 miners were arrested and charged with riot offences, including 3 miners from Brodsworth Colliery, but all were later acquitted amid claims that South Yorkshire Police had fabricated evidence. There were also widespread examples of pickets being beaten unconscious by police officers. That miners suffered such treatment simply for exercising their right to protest against the threat to their jobs, their industry and communities.

It is shameful that as yet, no-one has to answer for the events of that day. Monday 31st October has been a bad day for justice. We do however salute the decision of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign to continue with its fight for transparency and a full public inquiry and we will do everything we can to help them.

This Council will write to the Home Secretary asking that she takes into account the opinion of this Council, accepts that there is wide spread public concern about the events at Orgreave and calls on her to order an inquiry into them.”

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16.1 a Motion was submitted by Councillor John Mounsey and Seconded by Councillor Nigel Ball. In introducing the Motion, Councillor John Mounsey felt it was important to note that on that particular day, pickets wore t-shirts and trainers and although the police wore their protective clothing they had no numbers whatsoever on their shirt collars.

Council considered the following Motion:-

“This Council condemns the Home Secretary’s rejection on 31st October, 2016 in Parliament of an Orgreave Inquiry as a grave injustice.

This Council is appalled by the decision not to hold an inquiry into the policing of picket lines at the Orgreave coking plant 18th June 1984 Miners’ Strike.  With this ruling, the Home Secretary has shown great contempt for the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, many former miners, their families and communities who for more than 32 years, have waited for the truth and who have displayed huge courage and tenacity in trying to hold the authorities to account. Fighting for those locally who worked at Askern, Barnburgh, Bentley, Brodsworth, Cadeby and Denaby, Hatfield, Markham Main, Rossington and Yorkshire Main.

This Council observes that even the Independent Police Complaints Commission said in their redacted report released June 2015, that there was ‘evidence of excessive violence by police officers, a false narrative from police exaggerating violence by miners, perjury by officers giving evidence to prosecute the arrested men, and an apparent cover-up of that perjury by senior officers’.

This Council is astonished that in the light of such statements the Home Secretary concludes that there are few lessons to be learned by the current police forces from any review of these events, that no one died, there was no miscarriage of justice, no convictions and therefore there will be no inquiry.

This Council notes that 95 miners were arrested and charged with riot offences, including 3 miners from Brodsworth Colliery, but all were later acquitted amid claims that South Yorkshire Police had fabricated evidence. There were also widespread examples of pickets being beaten unconscious by police officers. That miners suffered such treatment simply for exercising their right to protest against the threat to their jobs, their industry and communities.

It is shameful that as yet, no-one has to answer for the events of that day. Monday 31st October has been a bad day for justice. We do however salute the decision of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign to continue with its fight for transparency and a full public inquiry and we will do everything we can to help them.

This Council will write to the Home Secretary asking that she takes into account the opinion of this Council, accepts that there is wide spread public concern about the events at Orgreave and calls on her to order an inquiry into them.”

The Chair afforded all Members the opportunity to speak on the Motion.

A vote was taken on the Motion which was declared as follows:-

For – 39

Against – 2

Abstain – 4

On being put to the Meeting, the Motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED that the Council condemns the Home Secretary’s rejection on 31st October, 2016 in Parliament of an Orgreave Inquiry as a grave injustice.

This Council is appalled by the decision not to hold an inquiry into the policing of picket lines at the Orgreave coking plant 18th June 1984 Miners’ Strike.  With this ruling, the Home Secretary has shown great contempt for the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, many former miners, their families and communities who for more than 32 years, have waited for the truth and who have displayed huge courage and tenacity in trying to hold the authorities to account. Fighting for those locally who worked at Askern, Barnburgh, Bentley, Brodsworth, Cadeby and Denaby, Hatfield, Markham Main, Rossington and Yorkshire Main.

This Council observes that even the Independent Police Complaints Commission said in their redacted report released June 2015, that there was ‘evidence of excessive violence by police officers, a false narrative from police exaggerating violence by miners, perjury by officers giving evidence to prosecute the arrested men, and an apparent cover-up of that perjury by senior officers’.

This Council is astonished that in the light of such statements the Home Secretary concludes that there are few lessons to be learned by the current police forces from any review of these events, that no one died, there was no miscarriage of justice, no convictions and therefore there will be no inquiry.

This Council notes that 95 miners were arrested and charged with riot offences, including 3 miners from Brodsworth Colliery, but all were later acquitted amid claims that South Yorkshire Police had fabricated evidence. There were also widespread examples of pickets being beaten unconscious by police officers. That miners suffered such treatment simply for exercising their right to protest against the threat to their jobs, their industry and communities.

It is shameful that as yet, no-one has to answer for the events of that day. Monday 31st October has been a bad day for justice. We do however salute the decision of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign to continue with its fight for transparency and a full public inquiry and we will do everything we can to help them.

This Council will write to the Home Secretary asking that she takes into account the opinion of this Council, accepts that there is wide spread public concern about the events at Orgreave and calls on her to order an inquiry into them.