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The tumultuous events at Orgreave in 1984, during a coal miners’ strike, are set to be re-examined under a new statutory inquiry. This inquiry, headed by the Bishop of Sheffield, the Rt Rev Dr Pete Wilcox, aims to shed light on the controversial confrontation between miners and police.
Known as the ‘Battle of Orgreave’, the clash in June 1984 is remembered as one of the most intense episodes in Britain’s industrial disputes. Although the skirmish resulted in over a hundred injuries, no fatalities were reported. However, 95 arrests were made, later dismissed due to unreliable evidence.
The Labour government is committed to this inquiry, fulfilling a manifesto promise to “uncover the truth” of the incident. This statutory inquiry will have the authority to compel the release of pertinent information.
The government expressed its intent to “rebuild public confidence in policing” through this investigation. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper remarked, “Every community should have confidence in their police, but we know what happened at Orgreave cast a shadow over communities in Yorkshire and other mining areas.”
She further emphasized the need for clarity, stating, “The violent scenes and subsequent prosecutions raised concerns that have been left unanswered for decades, and we must now establish what happened.”
Bishop Wilcox anticipates the inquiry will commence in the autumn, acknowledging the significant anticipation surrounding it. He is eager to engage with key stakeholders and collaborate with the government to enlist experts for the independent panel.
The announcement has been positively received by many, including representatives from the National Union of Mineworkers and the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC). Kate Flannery, Secretary of the OTJC, commented, “We have waited a long time for this day and this is really positive news.”
“All these years of hard work by the OTJC and our many supporters has helped to influence this constructive announcement. We appreciate the Home Secretary’s commitment to holding some kind of Orgreave inquiry.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
