Victoria Hicks, who has dark brown wavy hair, looks into the camera next to her sister Sarah, who has blonde shoulder-length hair and is wearing large hoop earrings.Handout
Jonny Humphries, North WestandJudith Moritz, Special correspondent
A police force has agreed to calls from the parents of two teenagers killed in the Hillsborough disaster to correct the record from a court case which wrongly concluded they did not suffer before they died.
Jenni and Trevor Hicks tried to sue South Yorkshire Police (SYP) in 1991 after the deaths of their daughters Sarah, 19, and Victoria, 15, in the 1989 tragedy, but were unsuccessful due to flawed medical evidence.
After significant public pressure, Chief Constable Lauren Poultney has instructed her force's lawyers to deliver a Statement in Open Court (SOAC) to correct the record.
The Hicks said Poultney made the promise during a private meeting. SYP has been asked to comment.
Jenni Hicks said: "We welcome what we have been told today, and we are pleased that South Yorkshire Police appears to recognise that this needs to be put right.
"But after everything families have been through over the past 36 years, we will wait to see it happen in open court before celebrating."
Jenni Hicks, who has blonde hair and is wearing a grey blazer over a white t-shirt, Lauren Poultney who has brown hair and is wearing a navy suit jacket over a patterned blouse and Trevor Hicks, who has white hair, a brown coat and a blue roll neck jumper.Tim Reid Media
The records in question come from a ruling in favour of SYP after a false premise was accepted by the courts and later the House of Lords - then the highest court in the country - known as the "30 second rule".
Judges and law lords at the time accepted that all victims caught in the terrace crush had lost consciousness within 30 seconds and therefore did not suffer.
However that conclusion was categorically debunked, first by the Hillsborough Independent Panel report in 2012, and then by a second set of inquests which finished in 2016.
The truth was that many victims, including Victoria and Sarah, had suffered for more than an hour and witnesses described Sarah being seen in "extreme distress" about the fate of her younger sister.
Jenni and Trevor Hicks launched their campaign earlier this month, calling on the courts, judiciary and parliament to consider how inaccurate official court records could be amended.
Their position was backed by political figures including former Prime Minister Baroness Theresa May and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
SYP came in for heavy criticism after the Hicks said the force's lawyers had refused to agree to a fresh court hearing in which a SOAC could be read into the official record.
A composite image of Sarah Hicks, who has blonde, shoulder-length hair and is wearing a black shirt, and Victoria Hicks who has dark brown wavy hair and a white shirt.Handout
Trevor Hicks previously described SYP's position as "absurd" and one which "doesn't stand up to any reasonable examination".
After meeting Poultney, however, he said: "Today felt like a hugely important step forward.
"We have waited a very long time to hear these words from the leadership of South Yorkshire Police. What matters now is that the promise made today is followed through."
Nia Williams, partner at Saunders Law, is acting for the Hicks.
She said: "Jenni Hicks and Trevor Hicks were today able to look the chief constable in the eye and explain why this legal correction is so important.
"We are pleased that the chief constable has confirmed that she has instructed SYP's legal team to agree to the Statement in Open Court and we hope that will happen very soon."
She said Poultney had told Jenni and Trevor the force would back any legislative change to bring in a so-called Hicks' Rule to allow inaccurate court records to be changed more easily in future.
The BBC has contacted SYP for comment.
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