WEST Yorkshire Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison should stand down now, according to the man who chaired his police authority until a fortnight ago.
Mark Burns-Williamson resigned as chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Authority on October 7 to stand in the forthcoming Police and Crime Commissioner elections.
Today, he said Sir Norman should go in the light of new information about his role in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster.
Mr Burns-Williamson was referring to shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle’s claims, made in the Commons yesterday, that Sir Norman revealed he had been asked to help "concoct" South Yorkshire Police’s version of events.
She used parliamentary privilege to make the allegations which were based on new evidence from a witness who discussed the disaster with Sir Norman.
Ms Eagle, a Merseyside MP, alleged Sir Norman was behind a "black propaganda" campaign.
Mr Burns-Williamson, who is now Labour’s candidate to become West Yorkshire Police & Crime Commissioner, said: "In light of the new evidence given in Parliament yesterday I feel Sir Norman Bettison should stand down now in the best interests of West Yorkshire Police."
Sir Norman was a chief inspector with South Yorkshire Police at the time of the disaster.
He attended the match at Sheffield Wednesday’s ground as a spectator but, after the disaster, he was involved in the subsequent force investigation.
The police authority has referred Sir Norman to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) which is investigating his role.
The chief, who has always denied any wrong-doing, has also announced he plans to retire next year.
Mr Burns-Williamson said the authority decided it was right for Sir Norman to step down next year rather than be suspended and than wait for the IPCC to report which could take some time.
He said: "But the latest allegations made by Maria Eagle MP in Parliament yesterday have made it clear that there are new and extremely serious claims against him.
"These allegations need to be investigated by the IPCC.
"I believe these continued allegations are now becoming too much of a distraction for West Yorkshire Police and for the chief constable.
"It is also clear that public confidence in West Yorkshire Police is being affected which Sir Norman Bettison himself has worked very hard to improve in recent years.
"At the core of our judicial system is the notion of innocent until proven guilty, and it is extremely important that the IPCC or any other investigation is allowed to get to the whole truth and that the proper legal processes are allowed to unfold for Sir Norman just as they would for anyone else.
"But my priority is, and would have to be if elected, the effective working of West Yorkshire Police in the service of the public and any major distraction from this must be addressed.
"I believe it has now reached that stage and therefore Sir Norman Bettison should stand down immediately while the IPCC investigations continue.
"There has got to be justice for the victims of Hillsborough and their families, and we have also got to uphold West Yorkshire Police’s credibility and standing for the public and beyond."
