Police apologise to Manchester attack victims for failing to deliver inquiry statements
The inquest into the deaths has been converted into a public inquiry so some evidence can be heard in secret.
Friday 22 November 2019 18:43, UK
Police have been forced to apologise to the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing for failing to deliver crucial statements from senior officers more than two years after the attack.
A hearing was told that the inquiry into the 22 killings, scheduled to start on 6 April next year, could be delayed because of the failure to explain police "command and control" on the night.
The inquiry was also told that police have handed over 550 hours of audio recordings from police radios which had not been transcribed.
The inquiry has transcribed the recordings themselves, but subsequently found gaps in them.
The counsel for the inquiry acknowledged the "concern, suspicion and even distress" families have experienced after it was announced that parts of the hearings about what MI5 knew about Salman Abedi, the bomber, will take place in secret.
Responding to the criticism, Fiona Barton QC, who is representing Greater Manchester Police, turned to the families at the hearing and said: "I apologise profusely for the delay. May I reiterate GMP's commitment to the start date."
One relative shouted out: "Not accepted."
Stephen Howe, whose wife Alison was among victims, said the delay was "diabolical" and accused GMP of "dragging their feet".
Ms Barton said she "utterly refutes" any suggestion of a "lack of candour".
She said one of the statements referred to the "overview and structure" of GMP which had "proved to be an enormous task".
The deputy chief constable, Ian Pilling, had a "date in his diary" for 29 November and the report would be finalised by 6 December, she promised.
Paul Greaney QC, counsel for the inquiry, said police had known about the need for the statements for seven months and the detail of what needed to be addressed for four months.
Statements have been received from all the other public bodies, including the ambulance, fire brigade and British Transport Police.
Pete Wetherby QC, for the families of the victims, said his clients "desperately want to have confidence in GMP" because of the central role they played.
But he added: "The sorry tale that Mr Greaney has laid out is frankly not good enough."
He criticised Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, saying: "One might have thought the chief constable would have sent down the line the clearest of instructions that the response to the Manchester bombing had to be done to the highest possible level.
"Greater Manchester Police really have to answer here as to why it has dragged its feet to the extent that counsel is saying there is potential jeopardy to the date."
Sir John Saunders, the chairman of the inquiry, said he was "absolutely insistent" that the inquiry had to start on 6 April.
"It is simply not fair to the families to wait longer than that, or to Manchester in general. If there is a delay I have no doubt there will be extremely extensive public criticism of Manchester police."
The inquest into the 22 deaths has been converted into a public inquiry so that parts of evidence from GMP and MI5 of "central importance" can be heard in secret.
It will be the first time that an inquiry into a terrorist attack on mainland Britain since 9/11 has taken place partly behind closed doors.
Mr Greaney acknowledged that there was "concern, suspicion and even distress" on the part of the victims' families.
"What everyone must understand is that you have not ruled in this way to protect the police and security service from scrutiny. Nothing could be further from the truth," he added.
Sir John told them: "All I can say is that I will hold a completely rigorous and proper inquiry. I am sorry they will not be able to hear it take place."