Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Northumbria Police sought (a) permission, (b) guidance, and (c) clearance from her Department prior to the destruction of (i) documents and (ii) records on 29 and 30 April 2024 relating to (A) events at Orgreave on 18 June 1984 and (B) the 1984-85 miners’ strike.

Police forces are independent of government and decisions concerning the management of their records are for them to make in accordance with their respective review, retention and disposal policies. However, the Government expects any such decisions to be made in accordance with relevant legislation and national guidance.

Further details about the Government’s manifesto commitment for an investigation or inquiry into the events at Orgreave will be made available in due course.