18th June 1984: The Battle of Orgreave takes place during the UK miners' strike скачать в хорошем качестве

18th June 1984: The Battle of Orgreave takes place during the UK miners' strike

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) had called a strike in March 1984 in response to plans by the National Coal Board to close several pits. The Orgreave coking plant near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was selected by the NUM as a key site to picket because it provided an essential material for the steel industry. Preventing deliveries from Orgreave was intended to put economic pressure on the government and industry. On 18 June 1984, thousands of striking miners gathered outside the coking plant where they were met by a large police force drawn from across the country. Estimates suggest there were around 5,000 pickets and nearly 6,000 police officers present. The police were equipped with riot gear, dogs, and mounted units. Tensions escalated throughout the day, with reports indicating that initial pushing and shouting developed into running battles between the two sides. Police on horseback charged at groups of pickets, while some miners responded by throwing stones and other objects. Dozens of individuals on both sides were injured. Ninety-five miners were charged with rioting and unlawful assembly. The events at Orgreave were widely reported in the media, though accounts varied significantly. While some coverage described the pickets as the main aggressors, others questioned police tactics and the level of force used. The subsequent trials of arrested miners collapsed in 1985 due to unreliable police evidence, including allegations of false statements and fabrication but, despite calls from a public inquiry into the events, no such inquiry has yet taken place.