T4K3.news

Inquiry into Orgreave policing starts after decades

UK government has launched an inquiry into the policing at Orgreave during the 1984 miners' strike.

July 20, 2025 at 07:00 PM

Government launches Orgreave inquiry, 40 years after clashes at miners’ strike

Government establishes inquiry following years of campaigning over Orgreave clashes.

Inquiry launched into Orgreave policing scandal after 40 years

More than 40 years after the violent clashes at the Orgreave coking plant during the miners' strike, the UK government has announced a statutory inquiry into the events of June 18, 1984. The inquiry follows significant pressure from campaigners who have long argued that the policing of the strike was unjust and that the prosecutions that followed were based on discredited evidence. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper revealed the initiative during a meeting with campaigners at the Orgreave site in South Yorkshire. The inquiry will investigate both the police actions during the strike and the subsequent failure to secure convictions against the miners involved, a situation labelled by critics as a major miscarriage of justice.

Key Takeaways

✔️

The inquiry addresses long-standing injustices from the 1984 miners' strike.

✔️

Yvette Cooper emphasized the emotional scars left on coalfield communities.

✔️

Criticism of policing tactics is front and center of the inquiry.

✔️

Previous prosecutions against miners were dropped due to unreliable evidence.

✔️

The inquiry structure is inspired by the successful Hillsborough panel.

✔️

Campaigners express cautious optimism for the outcome of the inquiry.

"People have waited for answers for over 40 years."

Yvette Cooper highlights the long-standing need for justice over Orgreave.

"It’s a massive injustice. I just hope the miners will be vindicated."

Arthur Critchlow expresses his hope for justice after years of trauma.

"We believe our dispute was political, orchestrated from No 10."

Chris Kitchen speaks to the political motivations behind the miners' strikes.

"The police were used as a parliamentary force to push a political objective."

Chris Kitchen reflects on the role of police during the miners' strike.

This inquiry marks a crucial moment for many communities in coalfield areas that still feel the repercussions of the miners' strike. The historical significance of the Orgreave events, coupled with the reputation of South Yorkshire police following the Hillsborough disaster, raises deep concerns about law enforcement accountability. While the inquiry aims to uncover the truth, it also poses potential political ramifications as it could highlight failures not just within police conduct but also in broader government strategies during the 1980s.