Police have one day to hand over Orgreave evidence

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has ordered the force to provide them with the five boxes after first requesting them in June.

Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign supporters protested outside the IPCC London headquarters last Friday over delays by in making a decision on whether it will hold a full investigation into Orgreave two years after it was requested.

But South Yorkshire Police says the missing files were not in its possession and the force was in “negotiation” with its former insurers, which holds them, to hand them over.

The IPCC said if police did not hand over the files by the end of this week, it would use its powers to force the evidence to be released.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “The force does not physically possess these documents.

“They were previously held by the force’s insurers at the time.

“The firm acting for the force’s current insurers claims the documents are partly the property of our former insurers and their consent would be required to release them.

“We are in negotiation with the firm to obtain the documents.

“We voluntarily referred the matter to the IPCC and is committed to working with them to resolve this matter as soon as possible to ensure an open, honest and transparent process.”

In the “Battle of Orgreave”, 95 miners were arrested and charged with rioting at Orgreave coking plant on June 18, 1984, after clashes with police.

The cases were abandoned in court when it became clear that evidence provided by police was unreliable.

Later, South Yorkshire Police paid £425,000 in compensation to 39 pickets in out-of-court settlements.

The IPCC has said it will make a decision by Christmas on whether there will be a full investigation.