Commentary
| Date | 01 October 1989 |
| Published date | 01 October 1989 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X8906200401 |
| Subject Matter | Commentary |
ThrPOLICE
JOURNM
C~~
POST HILLSBOROUGH DISASTER
The early publication
of
an interim inquiry report by Lord Justice
Tayloron the football crowd disaster which claimed 95 lives and over 400
woundedlast April, promptedthe ChiefConstableof South Yorkshire,
Mr
Peter Wright, to offer his resignation. In the report, the police control
of
events created by the late arrival at the ground
of
asurging mass of fans
was heavily criticized by the judge, who found that the handling of the
emergency on the day by some senior officers lacked the qualities of
leadership and judgement normally associated with men of their rank.
Recognizing, as did a former American personage, that the buck
stopped at his desk,
Mr
Wright accepted full responsibility for the police
handling of the tragic events and offered his resignation to the South
YorkshirePolice Authority. Itis very much to its creditthat the committee,
by unanimous vote, expressedits completefaith in the chiefconstableand
rejectedthe offer. In so doing, all members showed innate good sense, not
only in retaining the services of a first class officer, thus strengthening the
morale and determination of the force as a whole, but also in placing in
betterperspective the actions
of
all members
of
the force on the day of the
disaster.
Lord Justice Taylor decided that officers were found wanting when
faced with this calamitous situation and his criticisms were both trenchant
and unambiguous; indeed,
Mr
Wrightconsidered them harsh,
but
perhaps
they were inevitable in view of the enormous responsibility placed on the
shoulders
of
police officers nowadays.
The decisionto hold a full criminal investigation into all aspects
of
the
disaster, taken on the advice
of
the Director
of
Public Prosecutions,
precludes further commentat this stage, except to say that the stark reality
of many English football matches in this age of violence must be accorded
due prominenceas a major contributingfactor. For example, the necessity
to herd rabid fans into separate metal cages to keep them from eachother's
throats and the tribal chants as raw hatred cuts through the heavy barriers;
the metal fence installed to prevent pitch invasion, which defaces the
ground and stands as a condemnation of the de-humanizing holliganism
which has plagued soccer for so long; the massive police contingent
deployed primarily to prevent disorder and damage; the menacing
explosiveness
of
the crowd and the apprehension of police officers and
local householders as time for the fmal whistle draws near; the legislation
October 1989 261
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