Orgreave: Inquiry at last?

Orgreave miners and supporting campaigners welcomed reports today (September 15) that a public inquiry into the Orgreave miners’ picket in 1984 would be given the green light.

The news, which is not yet confirmed but has been widely reported in the media this morning, comes after a large delegation from the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC) met with home secretary Amber Rudd on Tuesday (September 13).

Speaking after the meeting in Parliament, Unite organiser and OTJC chairperson Joe Rollin said that he was “quietly confident” that the inquiry would go through.

“Unite has consistently called for the truth about South Yorkshire Police’s actions at Orgreave to be uncovered and has been part of the campaign to make sure that happens,” he said.

“For far too long the events of June 1984 have not been properly acknowledged or investigated. The impression I got from Amber Rudd is that she believes it’s time for that to change.”

Commenting on this morning’s reports, Rollin said he was “very pleased” that a public inquiry may have been given the final go-head.

“However,” he noted, “we need to make sure that this is an actual full public inquiry, which has the full powers to investigate and obtain evidence.

“There also must be, as there was with the Hillsborough inquiry, an ability to produce a report which provides full analysis of all the evidence.

“We won’t be happy until we get to the bottom of exactly what happened on June 18, 1984,” Rollin argued.

That day is commonly known as “The Battle of Orgreave” and involved 6,000 officers, donning riot gear, breaking a picket line on the most violent day of the 1984 Miners’ Strike. Nearly 100 miners, peacefully demonstrating, were arrested. Many were severely beaten.

Henrietta Hill QC, who has played a central role in preparing the OTJC evidence submitted to the then home secretary Theresa May agreed with Rollin that the precise terms of the public inquiry must be urgently established and that full powers be granted to the investigation.

Inquiry confidence

“For any inquiry to have the confidence of all concerned, it must involve those with sufficient expertise and independence to deliver a rigorous analysis and robust conclusions,” she said.

“We hope that the home secretary will engage with us further about this issue,” Hill added. “History is littered with examples of inquiries which though well intentioned disappoint at every level, but we are confident that the home secretary will want to make sure she does the job right on Orgreave.”

The next step in the campaign, Rollin noted, would be to seek a second meeting with home secretary Rudd.

“The OTJC will demand of Rudd that we be involved in the entire process from day one,” he said. “We also want to know what the terms of reference are in policing and other aspects so that we ensure that this is a truly full public inquiry and as a campaign we want to be consulted on the membership of any panel.”

Rollin affirmed that the OTJC campaign will “not be sidelined”.

“We’re going to continue putting on the pressure so that justice can finally be served.”