The government must now act to stop the police destruction of the archived evidence The Miners’ Strike 1984-85

I had the honor to represent two amazing miners who were accusing them of riots in the aftermath of the Orgreave Coke Factory near Sheffield in June 1984. In April last year, shortly before the election of the Labor Party, which was known to be a public investigation, or the destruction of the Northbria police “on boxes/boxes/relevant records By phrase or or orgrick (files, June 24). Power claims that it did so because the records were “outside the period of retirement” and that the destruction “is in line with the Power Policy and the Data Protection Law”.

The approved professional practice issued by the Police College in 2023 with regard to reviewing, preserving and disposing of materials “has a historical value and a permanent public interest” or that may be required for “the academy … or statistical purposes” that these materials “You must be archived“Regardless of the fact that the period of retirement has ended. Moreover, the Data Protection Law and its regulations explicitly allows the preservation of these articles.

The terrible examples of police misconduct a day are now known. In the trial, it was recently passed that an investigator in South Yorkshire might literally dictate the scenario on the officers sitting in offices in what has become known as the “school room”. The investigation may also reveal the role of the chief police officer and the Ministry of Interior. But not if the police forces are simply allowed to destroy the evidence in advance. The government must act immediately to prevent it.
Edward Reese K.
London

Sometimes government papers stored in national archives or weeds are obscured, but it is an essential tool for research historians. It is worrying to read that the Northoma Police destroyed the files related to Orgreave. This may be in conformity with the process of retaining the document, but Sherlock Holmes will not be required to know the reason for this before the election of a government committed to an investigation into the events that occurred in Orgreave.

The Minister of the Interior may be able to ensure that no other police files are destroyed before the investigation, if necessary by requesting to submit copies with civil service employees responsible for preparing it. The democratic community needs an accurate record of its history, even if it is uncomfortable for some.
Dr. Keith Fleet
The group of socialist historians in London