12:11 EDT, 22 April 2021
South Yorkshire Police officers felt they had to fight back against unfair criticism after the Hillsborough disaster, a former detective has told a court.
Ex-chief superintendent Donald Denton, 83, Alan Foster, 74, a retired detective chief inspector, and Peter Metcalf, 71, a former solicitor for the force, are alleged to have amended police statements to minimise the blame on the force after the tragedy at the FA Cup semi-final on April 15 1989, in which 96 Liverpool fans died.
On Thursday, retired officer Graham Dovey told their trial, sitting at a Nightingale court at the Lowry Theatre in Salford, he was part of a team led by Chief Superintendent Terry Wain, which was put together to prepare the chief constable s submission to Lord Justice Taylor s public inquiry into safety at sports events.
Police force sought to fight back against criticism over Hillsborough, court hears
An officer who helped compile a police report following the tragedy agreed to the suggestion it was produced with integrity and honesty
Peter Metcalf (left), a solicitor who worked with South Yorkshire police, along with retired former Detective Inspector Alan Foster (centre) and retired former Chief Superintendent Donald Denton
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image captionAlan Foster, Donald Denton and Peter Metcalf deny perverting the course of justice
Police officers felt they had to fight back against unfair criticism over Hillsborough, a former detective has told a court.
Two retired officers and an ex-police solicitor are on trial accused of amending police statements to mask failings following the disaster.
Retired officer Graham Dovey said there was a sense senior officers and South Yorkshire Police could be prosecuted .
Ninety-six football fans died in the 1989 terrace crush.
Retired Ch Supt Donald Denton, 83, retired Det Ch Insp Alan Foster, 74, and ex-police solicitor Peter Metcalf, 71, all deny perverting the course of justice.
10:42 EDT, 21 April 2021
Police statements about the day of the Hillsborough disaster were changed to remove criticism that officers were like headless chickens and light on manpower , a court heard today.
Peter Metcalf, 71, who acted as solicitor for South Yorkshire Police following the tragedy at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final, is charged alongside former senior officers Donald Denton, 83, and Alan Foster, 74, with perverting the course of justice.
They are accused of amending accounts of the day to mask failings of police after the disaster on April 15, in which 96 Liverpool fans died.
Jurors at the Nightingale court sitting at the Lowry Theatre in Salford heard the alleged edits had focused on areas where the force had expected to face criticism at an inquiry led by Lord Justice Taylor.
Hillsborough cover up claims are without justification , QC tells court
A lawyer claimed the real perversion of justice was that his client was facing a trial for just doing his job
Screengrab taken from video shown to jurors and issued by the Independent Office for Police Conduct of the West Terrace of Hillsborough stadium at 2.54pm on the day of the Hillsborough tragedy. Photo: Independent Office for Police Conduct/PA Wire (Image: PA)
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