Failure Of Duty

TWO high-ranking South Yorkshire police officers have been criticised after an investigation into the death of a fan trampled by a police horse before a football match.

Terry Coles, aged 41, of Morriston, Swansea, died from severe injuries after the incident outside Millmoor minutes before the Division Three championship decider between Rotherham United and Swansea City on May 6, 2000.

He died when he was trampled by a horse ridden by Pc Dave Lindsay. After an eight-day inquest a jury decided his death was an accident.

But today it was said that two officers in charge of the match, Chief Inspector Paul Cropley and Superintendent Dave Turner - now Chief Superintendent - had failed in their duties on the day of the incident.

Chf Insp Cropley, who has worked in the Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster areas of the force, received a formal warning from the Chief Constable - the most serious action short of a formal charge an officer can face - before he retired two years ago.

And Chf Supt Turner, head of Operation Support Services, will receive "words of advice" - a disciplinary action similar to an oral warning - from the Chief Constable.

As head of Operation Support Services he is in charge of police support units, public order provision and the traffic department.

No disciplinary action can be taken against Pc Lindsay, who retired over a year ago due to ill health and is no longer subject to the police disciplinary code. The findings by the Independent Police Complaints Commission follow a lengthy investigation into Mr Coles' death by West Yorkshire Police. No criminal charges have been brought against any officer.

Mr Coles' widow Christine is pursuing civil action for compensation against South Yorkshire Police who are contesting the claim. It could be several months before this is dealt with.

The investigation focused on the actions of Pc Lindsay, Chf Insp Cropley who was responsible for the proper policing of the district that day and Supt Turner who had overall responsibility for the policing of the match.

In a report IPCC Commissioner Nicholas Long says: "The investigation has found that both Chief Inspector Cropley and Superintendent Turner failed in their duties on the day of the incident. It has been recognised that Chief Inspector Cropley did not adequately plan for and supervise the event or his officers to a satisfactory standard.

"His supervising officer, Superintendent Turner, who had overall control of the event, did not involve himself sufficiently in the planning and supervision of the event.

"In the case of one of these officers I am satisfied that there is a realistic prospect that a tribunal would find that he failed in his duty. However Chief Inspector Cropley has retired from South Yorkshire Police, but before he did so he received a formal warning from the Chief Constable in respect of this matter. This is the most serious disciplinary sanction short of a formal charge and was recorded on the officer's personal record.

"In the case of Superintendent Turner it has been recognised that it was not unreasonable for him to expect that Chief Inspector Cropley would deal with the planning and organisation of the match. Although he made mistakes he acted in good faith. No criminal charges were preferred against this officer for his part in the incident. I have agreed that the appropriate sanction will be for him to receive words of advice from the Chief Constable. This is similar to an oral warning and is neither given nor received lightly.

"In respect of Pc Lindsay I can confirm that this officer retired from the force on medical grounds in May 2003 and as such he is no longer subject to the police disciplinary code."

Mr Coles' widow Christine told The Star: "It has been four and a half years since Terry's death. I am dismayed at the time the whole saga is taking although I am confident that my claim will succeed even if there is to be a contested hearing.

"I find it astonishing that in the light of the findings of this report that me and my family have to continue with all this the worry and stress. The sooner it is settled the easier it will be for myself and my family to get on with our lives. "

Chief Superintendent Bob Purdy, South Yorkshire Police Head of Professional Standards, said: "This unfortunate event occurred some four and a half years ago now and was immediately referred to the Police Complaints Authority for the independent supervision of West Yorkshire Police who we had invited into our force to investigate the circumstances concerning Mr Coles' death.

"Although we respect the decision arrived at it should be stressed that the Coroner's inquest concluded that this was an accidental death and the issues concerning the officers were not directly related to the cause of death, but concern peripheral issues in respect of management on that day.

"South Yorkshire Police now consider the matter closed and hope that all parties can now move on."

SOURCE: SHEFFIELD STAR DECEMBER 04 2004