THE MAYOR of Liverpool is demanding that Merseyside's former top cop Sir Norman Bettinson be stripped of an honourary fellowship bestowed by Liverpool John Moores University. 

Joe Anderson's call echoed that of Unison members working at the university who formally requested that “following the role  Sir Norman Bettison played in the disgraceful cover up of this tragedy he is immediately stripped of the honorary fellowship awarded him by LJMU in 2004.”

Both appeals came amid revelations in this week's Hillsborough Independent Panel's report that Bettinson, a chief inspector and then superintendent at South Yorkshire Police at the time of the disaster, was responsible for the production of a video tape which sought to present Liverpool FC fans as being to blame for the tragedy which killed 96 supporters. 

'Black propaganda unit'

In a letter to Professor Nigel Weatherill, the university's chief executive and vice-chancellor, Mayor Anderson condemns Bettinson, currently chief of West Yorkshire Police, for failing to show any remorse for his actions and says he “does not think he is a person worthy of any public honour or recognition, and especially not from the institutions of the city of Liverpool”. 

Earlier today, MP Maria Eagle accused Bettison, in Parliament, of being part of a “black propaganda unit” that smeared Liverpool fans. She called for him to quit his job, as did Trevor Hicks of the Hillsborough Family Support Group. 

Mayor Anderson has also written to Sir Bob Kerslake, chairman of the Honours Forfeiture Committee, urging that Sir Irvine Patnick, former MP for Sheffield Hallam, have his knighthood removed for his part in a “vile and appalling smear campaign” which has led to fans being “vilified and stigmatised” to deflect criticism from South Yorkshire Police and other authorities. 

It emerged in the 400-page report that Patnick took the lead in actively briefing the media with lies about the role and responsibility of Liverpool FC fans at Hillsborough. 

Anderson asked that the committee give “urgent consideration to the actions of the former MP which have brought the honours system into disrepute and on the basis of the overwhelming misery that this man has brought to the people of Liverpool”. 

The Mayor has also written to David Cameron welcoming his apology on behalf of the Government and asking for his backing. 

An e-petition has been set up on the city council website for people to support the call. It can be found here.