COPS 'ARE WAITING FOR MINERS TO DIE'

Strike battle files still concealed

- LUCY THORNTON

A POLICE force is being accused of "waiting for miners to die" before releasing their files about one of the bloodiest days of the 1984-85 strike.

Campaigners hope South Yorkshire Police's archives for the Battle of Orgreave could help them in their fight for an inquiry into the clash that led to 93 arrests and 123 people injured.

Many miners believe the force planned a violent confrontation at Orgreave in a bid to break the strike caused by national plans to close 20 pits with the loss of 20,000 jobs.

Six years ago, SYP said it intended to make some 82,000 pages relating to the strike available after a £340,000 project to digitise the files.

It says this process will take another 18 months.