The families of Hillsborough victims have welcomed Sir Norman Bettison's decision to quit his job.

Families of the Hillsborough tragedy victims are pleased with Sir Norman Bettison's resignation.

The families of the Hillsborough victims have welcomed Sir Norman Bettison's decision to quit his job as Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police.

Then a South Yorkshire Police chief inspector, Bettison sparked fury in 1989 when he said supporters at the tragedy made policing "harder than it needed to be."

Bettison has now announced he will step down in March next year amid an investigation by the police watchdog.

His statement read: "Recent weeks have caused me to reflect on what is best for the future of policing in West Yorkshire and I have now decided to set a firm date for my retirement of 31 March 2013."

Chairwoman of the Hillsborough Families Support Group Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James died in the tragedy, said: "Obviously I'm very, very pleased. I'm absolutely delighted that he's going.

"But then he'll be going on his full pension, and I'd like to know the full reasons why he's choosing to retire as soon as this."