Hillsborough Charges Dropped- What Do Abs Think I Think This Is Appalling

[gordiescotland1]

I think this is appalling that the CPS has dropped all the charges against Sir Norman Bessiton it must be a real slap in the face for the hillsborough victims but I cant say I am surprised one rule for them and one rule for others
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-45258766

[Davemano]

sanmac 16.22 - I fully agree.

[rowanwitch]

The behaviour of the fans has already been taken out of the equation earlier in the investigation, and inquests, football fans drink, and in those days fans turned up without tickets it happened everywhere. What went wrong was a series of misjudgments in managing entirely predictable behaviour. Following on from that was the failure to manage casualties appropriately. People died because people made wrong decisions people who should have been trained to manage the events. People who lied about their actions, supported by mis-reporting primarily by the SUN. Do you really think so many people would have campaigned so long and hard if they didn't believe wholeheartedly that the people who died had been let down so badly, and then their memories defiled by a system that sought to protect itself

[New Judge]

"Do you really think so many people would have campaigned so long and hard if they didn't believe wholeheartedly that the people who died had been let down so badly,..."

No. I'm sure they are sincere.

But there's a big difference between "being let down" and insisting that someone face serious criminal charges (and, dare I say it, be satisfied with nothing less than them being convicted).

The CPS has decided that there is no realistic prospect of securing a conviction against Bessiton. I would be surprised if David Duckenfield is convicted but I haven't really looked at the cases against the others. Hillsborough was a terrible tragedy but to attribute its causes to the shortcomings of a few individuals who made mistakes and displayed errors of judgement is, in my view, a bit thick.

[Zacs-Master]

It’s nothing to do with their shortcomings tho, and everything to do with them being top of the tree at the time, taking a pretty decent salary (and pension) and in so doing, accepting responsibility for their forces actions.

[New Judge]

Bettison was not "top of the tree" on the day. He was a Chief Inspector. Superintendent David Duckenfield was the officer-in-charge on the day. More than that the charges against Bettison were nothing to do with his actions on the day but were instead directed towards his behaviour since Hillsborough.

[Zacs-Master]

But you mentioned his name in the same paragraph as saying Hillsborough shouldn’t be attributed to a few individuals.
And I thing you splitting hairs about his seniority. He was high enough up to mean his rank had responsibilities commensurate with its pay scale.

[Zacs-Master]

Think your

[Zacs-Master]

You’re (arrrgh....sorry.....turning into OG).

[vetuste_ennemi]

OG?

Better than G(ratuitously)O(ffensive), perhaps.

[cassa333]

Where were all these supporters supposed to be? Which part of the stadium were they going to fit that wouldn’t have resulted I. What happened?

Was there a section that was empty had no supporters in it? If they all had tickets and should legitimately be there then there should have been space.

[hereIam]

If this was my thread, I would give sanmac at 16:22 BA for his total common sense.

Tragedies happen all the time, why this one should be constantly in the news after so many years is beyond me. Of course it's sad that people died, but it's also sad that this poor man has had this hanging over him all these years and it's not over yet as the relatives want to appeal! Maybe it's time to let the dead rest now. I realise my opinion will be controversial, but I really don't care.

[New Judge]

Yes I quite agree with sanmac and HereI am.

This tragedy happened almost thirty years ago. There have been enquiries and changes made (i.e. "lessons learned"). It seems the victims' families will not be satisfied unless somebody - the more the merrier - is incarcerated for making mistakes.

Sir Norman Bettison wasn't even accused of that. The allegations against him are (or rather, were) that he told lies after the event in an effort to shift the blame away from the police. Not his finest hour (if true) but hardly a justification to hound him for thirty years.