No appeal for Orgreave

They won't investigate because it's the tip of the iceberg. Who knows what else they're hiding?

Thanks durhamjen. As has been said there is no reason for the man to lie, he was too young to do anything at the time and now has no axe to grind. All of this needs investigation.

I remember there being talk of police officers removing/ covering up their badge numbers

I would have been a bit sceptical about that claim durhamjen if it had been anonymous but the man who made it has given his name and was only a teenager at the time so I can't imagine why he would have a reason to lie. As more and more of these sorts of allegations come to light, it seems quite wrong that an inquiry should be denied.

skwawkbox.org/2016/11/06/police-caught-red-handed-making-weapons-found-at-miners-demo/

Not Orgreave, but at another picket in Kent.

No surprise, I spoke to miners who were there , Stella Rimington earned her appointment as head of MI5 by her part in it

skwawkbox.org/2016/11/05/calling-all-orgreave-soldierspolice/

An eye-witness account from someone who wasn't involved.

skwawkbox.org/2016/11/03/exclusive-explosive-new-eye-witness-testimony-shows-orgreave-not-about-rogue-police/

Just because it was a long time ago and those involved won't be punished doesn't mean that it shouldn't be looked into. Otherwise it means that any government can get away with anything as long as they can either keep it quiet long enough or simply refuse an inquiry.

We need to shine a light on the scummy dark activities of the UK government then and now.

I doubt people would be shocked, those who suffered in that time and the communities still suffering will not be shocked. Maggie devotees will not believe anything that condemn her part in it, the Tory press would splash how the police lied but no more than that. No politicians involved are now in parliament. The most to expect is acknowledgement the miners were not treated fairly

I don't think it's the mining communities that they are worried about, but a lot of other people would be shocked by the things that came to light. People away from those affected think it was just a clash between the miners and the police, and the police were keeping law and order, revealing the true nature of the operation would surprise many.

Yes trisher I did say that it would bring it all out into the open but it cannot change anything can it? Heads will not roll. Those involved will not be stripped of their gold plated police/military/government pensions will they?

As for Maggie's memory, I don't think it could be tarnished any more than it already is in most mining communities. Do you know there were people in my town who held parties to "celebrate" her death, totally sick imo, whatever you might think of her.

Very true trisher

I'll help crowdfund as well durhamjen.
gillybob I think a real sense of closure would be achieved for all those affected by the events. But I also suspect that a lot of things would be revealed about the role of government, the involvement of the military and the security services and how the police were used that will shock many people. It is the extent of the operations and the people who were involved that this government want to keep under wraps. It will tarnish Maggie's memory and prove how underhand the Conservatives are.

Blimey. I had no idea about the phone tapping.

Yes I think I would consider it too durhamjen although other than bringing it out into the open and a backhanded apology, I have no idea what could be achieved.

My ex was BACM, not NUM. Along with NACODS they kept the pits open with maintenance so return would be possible. Our phone was tapped too.

A lot of trade unionists had their phones tapped at that time. My mam and dad's was. It used to amuse us to think how many hours of tape they had used recording conversations between me and my mam discussing my new baby's nappy contents etc.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/nov/01/orgreave-inquiry-campaigners-say-gloves-are-off-amber-rudd-miners

I'll definitely help crowdfund this if necessary.

Of course they were tipped off. I remember seeing convoys of buses with shields up at the windows full of "police" and I remember wondering where are all these police officers coming from?

Yes VQ I know miners who were taunted in exactly that way.

I was active throughout the miners strike, I reported and reported the iligal acts of the police , ignored. The taunts were vile, the TVs cameras always knew where there would be trouble - advised in advance .

This thread is suddenly bringing back the 80s for me. My ex was active in his trade union and we were sure for a while that our phone was tapped. We joked about it at the time but there was a serious side and I wonder now if an inquiry would open up a complete can of worms.

Phone tapping and surveillance.

My ex was a hospital porter and was on strike in 1979. The picket lines were often filmed and photographed by journalists. One day a journalist pointed out a film and photography crew and told the lads on the picket line that they weren't from any media organisation. The lads were under surveillance by the security services for having the audacity to commit the legal action of withdrawing their labour and picketing.

A few years later Maggie had tested all her ways and means and brought them all to bear on the miners.

MI5 on picket lines

They obviously have something to hide.

Could it include:
Police officers colluding when writing statements
Police officers targeting and beating up shop stewards and organisers
Soldiers dressed in police uniforms
The excessive use of force especially the use of horses to cavalry charge at the fleeing miners

Maggie was determined to destroy the miners at any cost. Her shining goddess image would seriously be tarnished if anyone ever allowed to see what she said and ordered at the time.

I don't understand the reasoning behind this rejection of an inquiry - that nobody died and nobody was unfairly charged. Former policemen have apparently stated that they were encouraged to use violence against the miners and to alter statements to discredit the miners and justify police actions. Surely that is reason enough to have a proper inquiry.