Hillsborough cop Bettison quits as chief

He resigned just hours before a meeting with the local police authority to discuss his position.

He had previously said he'd step down in March.

Vice-chairman Les Carter said Mr Bettison's notoriety "is proving to be a huge distraction for the force" while it is trying to slash £100 million from its budget.

In a statement Mr Bettison again denied the allegations against him.

Hillsborough Families chairwoman Margaret Aspinall said she was "absolutely delighted" that he was gone but "he should have been sacked."

She said she wanted to know what was happening to his pay and pension. "Any financial benefits should be frozen until the outcome of the investigation into the cover-up.

"This is not the end of it, the next thing is to make sure his role is properly investigated."

Mr Bettison was a chief inspector in South Yorkshire Police at the time of the Hillsborough disaster.

Labour MP Maria Eagle recently accused him of running a "black propaganda" campaign against Liverpool fans in the aftermath.

And on Tuesday former West Yorkshire Police Authority chairman Mark Burns-Williamson said he "should step down now."

The Hillsborough Independent Panel found that South Yorkshire Police had doctored officers' statements about Hillsborough to put it in the clear and shift the blame onto the victims.

Prosecutors and the IPCC are investigating over 1,000 officers to see if they should bring charges, including of manslaughter and perjury.