Top News

A major new investigation from the police watchdog has suggested for the first time senior police officers from a second police force potentially helped South Yorkshire Police (SYP) officers to undermine the battle for truth and justice over the Hillsborough disaster, in which 97 Liverpool fans were unlawfully killed. The vast new report includes findings from years of investigations by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and Operation Resolve - the criminal investigation into the disaster at Hillsborough Stadium on April 15, 1989. It has today concluded South Yorkshire Police fundamentally failed in its planning for the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest - and in how it dealt with traumatised supporters and families who were desperately searching for their loved ones before officers attempted to deflect blame for the disaster onto Reds supporters.

For the first time, this investigation examined the actions of a different police force, West Midlands Police (WMP), which was tasked with investigating the disaster and supporting the subsequent Taylor Inquiry and report which followed. That investigation was today branded "wholly unsatisfactory" with allegations of bias from senior officers. The IOPC said this is the largest independent investigation into alleged police misconduct and criminality ever carried out in England and Wales - but a senior officer today stated the probe has taken "too long" and said the families "deserved better." On December 2, a senior lawyer acting on behalf of bereaved families said the fact not one single police officer will face disciplinary proceedings for what happened at Hillsborough was "yet another bitter injustice" for those who have never seen anyone held accountable for the preventable and traumatic loss of their loved ones, the Liverpool Echo reports.

Using new evidence obtained by the two key investigations - which both began after the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report in 2012 - today's report has found nothing to change the conclusions of that panel and the subsequent fresh inquests, which concluded in 2016 the 97 Liverpool fans who died in and after the crush on April 15, 1989 were unlawfully killed, confirming there is zero evidence to support police accounts from the time that the behaviour of supporters caused or was a contributing factor to the disaster. Instead the report is clear about the dramatic failures of South Yorkshire Police in planning for, dealing with and responding to the disaster as it unfolded - and the failures of West Midlands Police for the subsequent investigation into what went so badly wrong.

The report identifies 12 police officers as having a case to answer for gross misconduct in a report into the Hillsborough disaster and its aftermath. The IOPC said there is "considerable evidence" of a "defensive approach" adopted by SYP to the investigations and inquiries which followed the disaster as the force "attempted to deflect the blame." This included allegations about the behaviour of Liverpool fans, which the report points out have been repeatedly disproven.

West Midlands Police, which was tasked with investigating the disaster and supporting the subsequent Taylor Inquiry and report which followed, has also been heavily criticised in the new report. The investigation by WMP was found to be "wholly unsatisfactory and inexplicably narrow," with evidence found the actions of two senior WMP officers were biased in favour of SYP.

Speaking about the new report, IOPC Deputy Director General Kathie Cashell said: "I would like to thank everyone who supported our investigations by sharing their very personal accounts of what happened in 1989 and the years that followed, and to pay tribute to the courage they have shown in revisiting those events. The 97 people who were unlawfully killed, their families, survivors of the disaster and all those so deeply affected, have been repeatedly let down-before, during and after the horrific events of that day.

"First by the deep complacency of South Yorkshire Police in its preparation for the match, followed by its fundamental failure to grip the disaster as it unfolded, and then through the force's concerted efforts to deflect the blame onto the Liverpool supporters, which caused enormous distress to bereaved families and survivors for nearly four decades. They were let down again by the inexplicably narrow investigation into the disaster conducted by West Midlands Police, which was a missed opportunity to bring these failings to light much sooner. What they have had to endure over more than 36 years is a source of national shame."

The IOPC has carried out 161 separate investigations into 352 complaints and police conduct matters in putting the new report together. More than 100 of the complaints related to the actions of senior officers at SYP and WMP, who were integral to the policing of the match or involved in the aftermath of the disaster. The report finds, had they still been serving today, a number of former senior officers and others from both forces would have gross misconduct cases to answer.

This includes Peter Wright, who was chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police at the time of the disaster. The IOPC said he would have faced a gross misconduct case for his part in attempting to minimise the culpability and deflect blame for the disaster away from his force and towards Liverpool supporters.

David Duckenfield, who was a chief superintendent with SYP and match commander at the Sheffield Stadium on the day, would have faced a gross misconduct case over allegations he failed to plan properly to prevent the disaster, failed to respond to the developing tragedy and lied about his order to open Gate C on the day, instead suggesting fans had forced the gate. Duckenfield was cleared of gross negligence manslaughter charges after a trial in 2019.

Norman Bettison, a former chief constable of both Merseyside and West Yorkshire Police was a chief inspector in SYP at the time of the disaster. The IOPC report said that if he remained a serving officer today, he would have faced a gross misconduct case. The report said the case would have centred on allegations that he was deliberately dishonest about his involvement in the disaster during his application for an appointment to the top police role with Merseyside Police in 1998.

The report added he was also accused of providing misleading and inaccurate press statements, "minimising his role to one on the periphery" to post-disaster investigations carried out by SYP - including during his time as chief constable of both Merseyside and West Yorkshire Police. Criminal charges against Bettison over his role in the aftermath of the disaster were dropped in 2018.

The IOPC report said a total of 10 SYP officers would have had a case to answer for gross misconduct, if still serving, for their role in preparing for and policing the match, their handling of the response to the disaster as it unfolded or their part in the defensive response and attempts to deflect blame.

Former West Midlands Police assistant chief constable Mervyn Jones and ex detective chief superintendent Michael Foster would have faced gross misconduct cases for their failures to investigate South Yorkshire Police effectively including for alleged bias towards police and against supporters.

In total, 92 complaints about police actions have been upheld by the IOPC or individuals would have had a case to answer relating to the planning and preparation of the match, the investigation by WMP into the actions of SYP, what officers said in the aftermath of the disaster and officers' behaviour towards families and survivors.

The investigations found a shocking total of 327 statements from officers were found to have been amended, over 100 more than had previously been uncovered, as part of a defensive approach SYP adopted to control the evidence submitted to the Taylor Inquiry and WMP.

None of the officers investigated could face disciplinary proceedings, because they had retired before the investigations began. Legislation has now been changed so that retired officers can be subject to disciplinary proceedings. Ms Cashell continued: "Today's publication is the culmination of lengthy processes, including the longest inquests in English legal history and a number of criminal trials, which our investigations supported. As I have expressed to those closely affected, this process has taken too long-those who campaigned for so many years deserve better.

"It is important to remember that the forces we investigated are different to the ones they are today. Policing has seen many changes since 1989 and now, thanks to the tireless campaign of the families and survivors, the Public Office Accountability Bill will introduce a legal duty of candour for all public officials.

"I hope this report serves as a timely reminder of what happens when organisations focus on protecting their reputation rather than admitting their mistakes and acting to put things right."

"If a legal duty of candour had existed in 1989, it could have helped ensure that all relevant evidence was shared fully and promptly. The families of those who were unlawfully killed would have experienced a far less traumatic fight for answers about what happened to their loved ones. Had that duty existed, our investigations may not have been necessary at all."

Nicola Brook, a solicitor at Broudie Jackson Canter acting for several bereaved Hillsborough families, described the fact that not one police officer will face disciplinary proceedings as "yet another bitter injustice."

Ms Brook said: "More than a hundred findings of misconduct or gross misconduct were made, yet not a single officer will face a disciplinary panel. Not one will be held to account. This outcome may vindicate the bereaved families and survivors who have fought for decades to expose the truth - but it delivers no justice. Instead, it exposes a system that has allowed officers to simply walk away, retiring without scrutiny, sanction or consequence for failing to meet the standards the public has every right to expect. Yes, the law has now changed so this loophole cannot be used in future. But for those affected by this case, that is no consolation. They are left with yet another bitter injustice: the truth finally acknowledged, but accountability denied."

Following the publication of today's report, South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Lauren Poultney says its findings will "always be a point of deep regret and shame" for the force.

She said: "There is nothing I can say today which can take away the years of pain and hurt caused by the force I now lead. On behalf of South Yorkshire Police, I fully accept the IOPC report which highlights a litany of failures and am so deeply sorry for the pain and heartache caused. The report is clear in that people attended a football match in Sheffield and therefore, they were in our care. The force failed them and also failed their loved ones in the days, months and years after. This will always be a point of deep regret and shame for South Yorkshire Police. Those who lost their lives will always be in my thoughts."