A spokesperson for the South Yorkshire Police Federation said: "It is unhelpful to compare past events with modern policing, as many changes have been implemented in training, oversight, and public engagement."
The planned inquiry follows years of calls for transparency over the clashes, in which 95 miners were arrested at Orgreave but later acquitted due to unreliable evidence. Critics argue that without revisiting such incidents, accountability remains elusive.
Una Harrison from the Police Action Centre, a group supporting protesters, emphasized that a full examination of Orgreave is necessary to address "systemic issues" in policing protests.
"Time has not erased the need for justice," Harrison said. "Until these matters are properly investigated, the same patterns may continue."
The Labour Party affirmed that the inquiry will examine not only police actions but also the alleged political influence on law enforcement during the miners' strike.
Baroness Doreen Lawrence, a long-time advocate for police reform, added: "If we ignore historical injustices, we risk repeating them. The inquiry must ensure that lessons are truly learned."
CuriosityNews has previously reported on declassified documents showing extensive state coordination against the miners, raising questions about the extent of political involvement in policing tactics.
The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign has urged the inquiry to begin as soon as possible, stressing that delayed accountability undermines public trust in the justice system. Their call reflects wider concerns over the handling of protests and the need for lasting reform.
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