Category Archives: Popplewell Inquiry

Here you can find articles relating to the Popplewell Inquiry. This was an investigation into the fire by The Honourable Sir Oliver Bury Popplewell.

Bradford City Fire Interim Report by Mr Justice Popplewell

Popplewell Inquiry Interim Report Bradford City Fire Front CoverAt the bottom of this posting you will find a link to a PDF I am hosting of the ‘Committee of Inquiry into Crowd Safety and Control at Sports Grounds’ Interim Report’ that was Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for the Home Department and was Chaired by Mr Justice Popplewell. You will also find a link to the full and final report.

The Interim report is more focussed on the Bradford City Fire (and the Birmingham Riots) than the final report. The ‘Interim Report’ and some of the details it contains about the Bradford City Fire make for some difficult reading. In fact there are details within the report that really sadden the heart. I’ve highlighted a few points below:

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Notes from The House of Lords Sitting on 24th July 1985 regarding the Popplewell Inquiry interim report

Lord Glenarthur

Lord Glenarthur

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Glenarthur) 

My Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall now repeat a Statement about the interim report of the Popplewell Inquiry which is now being made in another place by my right honourable friend the Home Secretary. The Statement is as follows:

“With permission, Mr. Speaker, I should like to make a Statement. The Government have today published the interim report of the inquiry into safety and control at sports grounds under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice Popplewell, established following the tragic fire at Bradford City football ground and the events at Birmingham City on 11th May. My right honurable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are both deeply grateful for the speedy, clear and thorough way in which the chairman and his two assessors have tackled this difficult and important task.

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Papers of the Popplewell Inquiry into Crowd Safety at Sports Grounds

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Sir Oliver Popplewell

Sir Oliver Popplewell

Following the fire in 1985 at Valley Parade, Bradford City football stadium, an Inquiry chaired by Sir Oliver Popplewell was held under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975. In the light of this inquiry, and of the earlier disaster at Birmingham City football stadium, a Committee of Inquiry into Crowd Safety at Sports Grounds was set up. Sir Oliver Popplewell was selected to chair this committee. Submissions and evidence were gathered from interested parties, including the Fire Brigade, police, sociologists, football clubs and other sports associations. The Committee’s Interim Report was published in July 1985. Further evidence was received, including reports from the tragedy at Brussels’ Heysel stadium and the Final Report was published in 1986.

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