Report reveals which former South Yorkshire and West Midlands Police officers would face disciplinary proceedings
Former South Yorkshire Police Chief Inspector and former Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Sir Norman Bettison
Former South Yorkshire Police Chief Inspector and former Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Sir Norman Bettison
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A major new report revealing the appalling extent of police failures that led to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster and officers' actions in a subsequent cover-up that tried to blame Liverpool fans found a number of senior officers would be facing gross misconduct cases if they were still serving today.
They include former Merseyside Police chief constable Norman Bettison, match commander and South Yorkshire Police chief superintendent David Duckenfield and Peter Wright who was chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police at the time of the disaster.
Released today the report brings together years of evidence collected 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 concludes 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.
The report also places key criticisms, for the first time, at the door of West Midlands Police (WMP), the force tasked with investigating the disaster and supporting the subsequent Taylor Inquiry and report which followed. The IOPC today branded that investigation "wholly unsatisfactory' with allegations of bias aimed at two former senior WMP figures.
The new report has backed up the findings of the Hillsborough Independent Panel and the second inquests - which both confirmed the 97 Liverpool fans that died as a result of a major crush were unlawfully killed - and there is zero evidence to support police accounts from the time that claimed the behaviour of Liverpool fans caused or contributed to the disaster.
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 policing the match or involved in the aftermath.
None of the officers investigated can face disciplinary proceedings because they retired before the investigations began. Legislation has now been changed so retired officers can be subject to disciplinary proceedings.
The report finds, had they still been serving today, a number of former senior officers and others, from both forces, would have gross misconduct or misconduct cases to answer. The officers named in this list are as follows.
South Yorkshire Police:
Peter Wright
Former Chief Constable of the South Yorkshire Police Peter Wright speaking at a press conference following the Hillsborough tragedy.
Former Chief Constable of the South Yorkshire Police Peter Wright speaking at a press conference following the Hillsborough tragedy.
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Peter Wright was chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police at the time of the disaster. The IOPC today says he would have faced a gross misconduct case for his part in attempting to minimise the culpability and deflecting blame for the disaster away from his force and towards Liverpool supporters. He died in 2011.
David Duckenfield
Former Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield
Former Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield (Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)
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David Duckenfield, chief superintendent with SYP and match commander at the Sheffield stadium on the day, would have faced a gross misconduct case over a total of 10 allegations made against him. These include 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.
Duckinfield was cleared of gross negligence manslaughter charges after a trial in 2019.
Norman Bettison
Former South Yorkshire Police Chief Inspector and former Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Norman Bettison
Former South Yorkshire Police Chief Inspector and former Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Norman Bettison
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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.
In 1998, he left West Yorkshire Police to become chief constable of the Merseyside force in a move that was passionately opposed by a number of families of those who died at Hillsborough. He retired in 2013 having been awarded the Queen's Policing Medal and was knighted before he left the force.
The IOPC report says that if he remained a serving officer today, he would have faced a gross misconduct case. The report says the case would have centred on allegations he was deliberately dishonest about his involvement in the disaster during his application for and appointment to the top police role with Merseyside Police in 1998.
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.
Walter Jackson
Former Assistant Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police Walter Jackson
Former Assistant Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police Walter Jackson
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Former assistant chief inspector of South Yorkshire Police Walter Jackson would have faced a gross misconduct case based on two allegations that he failed to plan adequately to prevent the disaster taking place and failed to organise and direct junior-ranking police officers to help save lives.
The IOPC report states, as the senior officer with overall responsibility for the planning process and approving the plans, he failed to, among other things, ensure that learning from previous matches was properly gathered and applied.
The report says the complacency in the police's planning for the match was encapsulated in the remarks of ACC Jackson. He told the original inquests led by Dr Stefan Popper it was “inevitable” that when the plan was complete, it would be right. The report adds: "His confidence was to prove tragically misplaced." He has since died.
Bernard Murray
Former South Yorkshire Police superintendent Bernard Murray.
Former South Yorkshire Police superintendent Bernard Murray.
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Ex South Yorkshire Police superintendent Bernard Murray was ground commander at Hillsborough Stadium on the day of the disaster.
The IOPC report suggests he would have had a gross misconduct case to answer based on five allegations. These include he failed to plan adequately in order to prevent the disaster and failed to prevent a dangerous build-up of supporters outside the gates.
The allegations also include a failure to respond to the developing tragedy and to monitor and control the movement of supporters, as well as not organising and directing junior officers to help save lives. He has since passed away.
Roger Marshall
Former Superintendent Roger Marshall
Former Superintendent Roger Marshall
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Former South Yorkshire Police superintendent would have a gross misconduct case to answer if he was still a serving officer today, according to the IOPC.
This relates to two allegations that he failed to take any steps to control the flow of supporters or manage the situation on the day and that he should not have requested gates be opened, giving supporters uncontrolled and unlimited access to the football ground.
Alan Foster
Former Detective Chief Inspector of South Yorkshire Police Alan Foster
Former Detective Chief Inspector of South Yorkshire Police Alan Foster
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Former detective chief inspector of South Yorkshire Police Alan Foster was 'directly involved in the amendment of fellow officers' accounts' following the disaster, according to the IOPC report.
The police watchdog suggests were he a serving officer today, he would have faced a gross misconduct case over allegations he "directly or indirectly brought undue pressure to bear upon those SYP officers who refused to make alterations to their original accounts" of what happened on the day.
In 2021, Mr Foster was acquitted of perverting the course of justice related to the altering of police statements.
Harry White
Former South Yorkshire Police Inspector Harry White at the Hillsborough Inquests
Former South Yorkshire Police Inspector Harry White at the Hillsborough Inquests
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Former South Yorkshire Police inspector Harry White was in charge of maintaining order on the West Terrace of Hillsborough Stadium on the day of the disaster.
He faced an allegation he failed in his supervisory duties and responsibility regarding the management of the build-up of the crowd on the inner concourse of the stadium and in his subsequent response to the unfolding situation. For this, the IOPC says he would have faced a gross misconduct case were he still serving.
John Morgan
Former police sergeant John Morgan
Former police sergeant John Morgan
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Ex-South Yorkshire Police sergeant John Morgan is another the IOPC says would have a gross misconduct case to answer were he still a serving officer today.
This is based on allegations he failed to supervise his serial (group of officers) at a key time prior to the match because he was unnecessarily absent from his area of responsibility.
He is also accused of failing to take any action in response to the crowd coming through Gate C after the gate was opened.
David Scott
Police constable David Scott was a mounted officer on duty outside the Leppings Lane entrance on the day of the disaster. He was seen on TV cameras striking a Liverpool supporter and later claimed this was to protect his horse as fans were threatening to burn it with cigarettes.
He said when he inspected his horse later, he found lumps on its back legs and said the horse’s coat appeared singed. The IOPC says the evidence it gathered indicates this alleged incident did not take place and were he an officer today, David Scott would face a gross misconduct case for allegedly lying about it.
Roger Greenwood
Retired Superintendent Roger Greenwood
Retired Superintendent Roger Greenwood
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Former South Yorkshire Police superintendent Roger Greenwood is the only one on the list who the IOPC says would have faced a misconduct case today, rather than gross misconduct.
This case would centre on allegations he failed in the way he responded to events that unfolded in Pens 3 and 4 on the day and that he failed to organise and direct junior-ranking police officers to help save lives.
West Midlands Police
Mervyn Jones
Mervyn Jones former Assistant Chief Constable of West Midlands Police
Mervyn Jones former Assistant Chief Constable of West Midlands Police
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For West Midlands Police, the force tasked with investigating what happened at Hillsborough, the IOPC says there would have been gross misconduct cases to answer against two officers had they still been serving today.
Former assistant chief constable Mervyn Jones would have faced four allegations that he failed to effectively investigate South Yorkshire Police and was biased against Liverpool supporters and in favour of South Yorkshire Police.
Michael Foster
Former West Midlands Police detective chief superintendent Michael Foster would have also faced a gross misconduct case for six allegations relating to his alleged failures to investigate South Yorkshire Police effectively and claims he was biased against supporters in favour of South Yorkshire Police.