The most senior serving police officer involved in South Yorkshire Police's Hillsborough operation has claimed that he has "nothing to hide".
Sir Norman Bettison, the current Chief Constable of West Yorkshire, was involved in an internal inquiry following the disaster in which 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives, having attended the match as an off-duty police inspector.
Yesterday's Hillsborough report revealed that 164 police statements were altered, 116 of them to remove or alter "unfavourable" comments about the policing of the match, but Bettison denies having any part of the scandalous cover-up.
"I really welcome the disclosure of all the facts that can be known about the Hillsborough tragedy because I have absolutely nothing to hide," read a statement from Bettison.
"I read the 395-page report from cover to cover last night and that remains my position.
"The panel, in my view, has produced a piece of work that will stand the test of time and scrutiny. Whilst not wishing to become a conducting rod for all the genuine and justified hurt and anguish, I would invite anyone to do the same as me and read the document and the papers online."
He also added: "I never altered a statement nor asked for one to be altered."
The report also revealed that up to 41 people could have been saved had the emergency services been up to the required standard.
Barney Corkhill
