Don Hale 8 March 2019 4/12-5/4
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IICSA Inquiry-Westminster 8 March 2019 1 Friday, 8 March 2019 1 until 2016, at the National Counter-terrorism Policing 2 (10.00 am) 2 Headquarters. He was tasked with searching both the 3 THE CHAIR: Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Day 5 of 3 Metropolitan Police Special Branch and the 4 this public hearing. Mr Altman? 4 Greater Manchester Police Special Branch records -- 5 MR ALTMAN: Mr Henderson. 5 that's both electronic and hard copy records -- for any 6 Witness statements adduced by MR HENDERSON 6 documents relating to a search of the offices of 7 MR HENDERSON: Good morning, chair. Chair and panel, you 7 Mr Donald Hale or the Bury Messenger newspaper in or 8 will recall that yesterday afternoon we heard evidence 8 around 1984. 9 from Commander Jerome in relation to the series of 9 Chair, you will appreciate that that is going to be 10 allegations that have been made about Elm Guest House. 10 very relevant to the evidence that you are about to hear 11 We just wanted to invite you to formally adduce some 11 from Mr Hale. 12 press articles and a clip from a documentary, a Panorama 12 Mr Blackford's witness statement indicates that 13 documentary, that dealt with those allegations. There 13 nothing has been found in either of those searches in 14 is no need to bring these up on screen, but they will be 14 the records. However, if we could turn, please, to 15 on the inquiry website. They are INQ004082; INQ004074; 15 page 2, and zoom in on paragraphs 1.5 and 1.6, he 16 INQ004093; and INQ004095. 16 comments here on what the significance of that is, and 17 Statement of MR CLIVE BLACKFORD (read) 17 I wonder if I can just read this into the transcript. 18 MR HENDERSON: The other document, chair, which I would 18 Mr Blackford says this: 19 invite you to adduce I will ask to be brought up on 19 "I have been asked to comment on the significance of 20 screen. It is the statement of Mr Clive Blackford, and 20 there being no trace of the search ..." 21 if I could invite the Relativity operator to bring up 21 That's the search Mr Hale refers to: 22 INQ003920. Thank you very much. 22 "... in either the Metropolitan Police 23 Mr Blackford is a former Metropolitan Police Service 23 Special Branch or the Greater Manchester Police 24 Special Branch and Counter-terrorism Command officer. 24 Special Branch records. The fact that there was no 25 He was then a member of the Metropolitan Police staff, 25 trace of the search in records does not necessarily mean Page 1 Page 2 1 that the search did not take place. Given the passage 1 material) is that the search actually never took place 2 of time, there are a number of possibilities which might 2 and therefore there is no record." 3 arise there therefrom, and I set these out but not in 3 Those are the options that Mr Blackford sets out, 4 any order of preference. 4 and I invite you, chair, to adduce the whole of that 5 "Firstly, the search took place, but details of it 5 statement. Thank you very much. 6 were never passed to the Metropolitan Police 6 MR DONALD PETER HALE (sworn) 7 Special Branch, for whatever reason, and were only 7 Examination by MR ALTMAN 8 recorded in the Greater Manchester Police Special Branch 8 MR ALTMAN: First of all, Mr Hale, give the chair and panel, 9 records. Secondly, the search took place and, for 9 please, your full name? 10 whatever reason, details were passed to the 10 A. Donald Peter Hale. 11 Metropolitan Police Special Branch, but those details 11 Q. Mr Hale, tell us something about your history? 12 have subsequently been deleted or weeded out in 12 A. Well, I was a former professional footballer. 13 accordance with the then record-keeping guidelines in 13 Q. Was that for Blackburn Rovers? 14 force. Thirdly, details were recorded in the GMP 14 A. Well, Bury first and then Blackburn Rovers and 15 Special Branch records but, again, have been weeded out 15 Shrewsbury Town and two others. I got injured playing 16 or deleted in accordance with the then record-keeping 16 football, basically, and it was through injury that 17 guidelines in force. Fourthly, the search by 17 I got into journalism. I ended up spending a lot of 18 Greater Manchester Police Special Branch or 18 time in the stands rather than on the pitch and sat next 19 Metropolitan Police Special Branch officers took place 19 to the BBC reporter who was covering the match 20 but details of it were never recorded in [either set of] 20 commentaries and I gradually got to know what was what 21 records. Lastly, the search took place but it was not 21 as a pundit, if you like, giving technical advice to the 22 carried out by either Metropolitan Police Special Branch 22 broadcaster. 23 or Greater Manchester Police Special Branch officers. 23 BBC liked this, and invited me to join in and do my 24 Another conclusion that could be drawn in isolation (and 24 own broadcasts, and I ended up working with the BBC 25 without knowing whether there is any corroborating 25 covering sport mainly, but features, news, et cetera. Page 3 Page 4 1 (Pages 1 to 4) Epiq Europe Ltd www.epiqglobal.com Lower Ground, 20 Furnival Street (+44)207 4041400 [email protected] London EC4A 1JS IICSA Inquiry-Westminster 8 March 2019 1 I then -- I spent about 40 years working as 1 I was the Observer Man of the Year in 2000. As I say, 2 a journalist, covering a whole variety of events. 2 I have worked on quite a number of different cases. 3 I have been editor of about five newspapers -- in 3 My campaign, particularly with the first case, with 4 Manchester, Derbyshire and North Wales. I have worked 4 the Stephen Downing one, helped to change both British 5 freelance and staff for most of the major newspapers or, 5 and European law, in terms of what I didn't know at the 6 as I say, the BBC and that. I also got involved with 6 time was that anyone who was in denial of murder, or any 7 four major miscarriage of justice cases, and they all 7 major crime in denial, they weren't actually allowed to 8 proved successful. Taking it forward right from 1994, 8 present their own case themselves to the Parole Board. 9 the first case, I spent eight years working on a case 9 With the help of lawyers, we took this to the European 10 for Stephen Downing. He'd spent 21 years in gaol at 10 Court of Human Rights against the government and won. 11 that stage for a murder he claimed he hadn't committed. 11 They appealed, we took it again and again we won. This 12 I was eventually able to prove he was innocent and the 12 was gradually included within European and British law. 13 conviction was quashed in 2002. 13 Same with looking at tariffs when a prisoner 14 I subsequently got asked to work on several other 14 exceeded the tariff that was given to them, again this, 15 high-profile cases involving Barry George, the 15 was included within the same Bill. 16 Jill Dando murder; Graham Huckerby; and, latterly, 16 Q. Good. And I think you received the OBE also in 2002? 17 Ched Evans' case. So I have been involved with quite 17 A. Yes, that's correct, yes, that was for campaign 18 a number of investigative cases. 18 journalism. It's the first time it's ever been awarded. 19 Quite often, these have clashed to a certain extent 19 Q. Do you regard yourself as a campaigning journalist? 20 with the police or the IPCC, as they were, now IOPC, but 20 A. I was then; not so much now. 21 I'm enjoying my career. I have won quite a lot of 21 Q. What do you do now? 22 awards. I have been Journalist of the Year on three 22 A. Well, I'm semi-retired, but I still help with a number 23 occasions, including the major one, What the Papers Say, 23 of -- advice to lawyers on various cases, case analysis. 24 which is a major national award. I won that in 2002. 24 Primarily, I'm a writer. I have written quite a few 25 I have had the Campaign of the Year in the same year. 25 books about some of the cases I've worked on. I've had Page 5 Page 6 1 three major books that's been with large publishers that 1 Farrell -- of which police force; do you remember? 2 have done very well. I worked on a television series 2 A. The Metropolitan Police. 3 with the BBC called "In Denial of Murder", which is 3 Q. So he was Metropolitan Police. Then, please, if we go 4 a two-part BBC drama. And I have done quite a lot of 4 to the next tab, tab 4, we will see a few years later, 5 other radio and television work. 5 now in February 2017, there is a statement dated 6 Q. Thank you for that. Now, as far as your account is 6 20 February 2017.