The landmark report found two police forces committed serious failings before, during and after the 1989 disaster, leading to 97 unlawful deaths and attempts to blame Liverpool fans
Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield
Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield(Image: PA)
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Everything you need to know about major new Hillsborough report
New IOPC and Operation Resolve findings reveal multi-force failings and obstruction. The report, one of the largest police misconduct investigations in UK history, concludes that not only South Yorkshire Police (SYP), but also senior officers in West Midlands Police (WMP), played roles in undermining efforts to uncover the truth about the Hillsborough disaster, marking the first time WMP's actions have been formally scrutinised in this way.
SYP is found responsible for catastrophic failures before, during and after the disaster. Investigators confirm SYP’s planning for the FA Cup semi-final was deeply inadequate, its response as the fatal crush unfolded was chaotic and ineffective, and its treatment of traumatised fans and families was severely lacking. Afterwards, SYP engaged in a prolonged campaign to shift blame onto Liverpool supporters, claims entirely disproven by new and historical evidence.
WMP’s post-disaster investigation was biased and “wholly unsatisfactory”. Tasked with investigating SYP and supporting the Taylor Inquiry, WMP instead conducted an “inexplicably narrow” inquiry that failed to challenge SYP’s version of events. Evidence shows that at least two senior WMP officers acted with bias in favour of SYP, helping to obscure the truth for decades.
Multiple former senior officers would now face gross misconduct charges. The report identifies several high-ranking figures, such as SYP chief constable Peter Wright, match commander David Duckenfield, and future Merseyside chief constable Norman Bettison, who would have been charged with gross misconduct had they still been serving. Their alleged failures include poor planning, dishonesty, withholding or altering evidence, and misleading public statements.
Evidence of a widespread cover-up, including 327 altered police statements. Investigators discovered far more altered statements than previously known, revealing a coordinated effort within SYP to edit out criticism, shape narratives, and protect the force. These alterations fed into both the Taylor Inquiry and WMP’s investigation, adding to a decades-long obstruction of truth.
No officers will face disciplinary action due to retirement loopholes. Although more than 100 findings of misconduct or gross misconduct were made, every involved officer had retired before the investigations began, preventing disciplinary proceedings. While the law has since been changed to close this loophole, the families receive no accountability for past wrongdoing.
Families and investigators condemn decades of delay and lack of justice. The IOPC describes the 36-year struggle for truth as a “national shame,” acknowledging the profound failures that repeatedly let families down. Lawyers for the bereaved say the absence of any sanctions represents “yet another bitter injustice”: truth has finally been officially recognised, but justice remains denied.