Letters have been sent to families this week confirming the outcome
News
Anfield pays tribute to the 97 victims of the Hillsborough disaster on its 33rd anniversary in 2022
Anfield pays tribute to the 97 victims of the Hillsborough disaster on its 33rd anniversary in 2022
(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Police "fundamentally failed" in planning and policing the Hillsborough FA Cup semi-final match at which 97 Liverpool supporters were unlawfully killed in 1989, a watchdog has found.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has this week sent outcome letters to the families of those who lost their lives in the disaster on April 15, 1989. In their letters they confirm the steps the body took to investigate complaints or the conduct of former officers, an analysis of the evidence and their opinions.
Article continues below
In total, 354 complaints and conduct matters were investigated relating to the disaster at the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest and its aftermath. Just over half of complainants have been told at least one of their complaints has been upheld or, in the IOPC's opinion, there would have been a case to answer for misconduct for one or more officers they complained about, had they still been serving.
An IOPC spokesperson said: "Each complaint and conduct matter was investigated in line with our legal duties, using all the available evidence and by applying the relevant legal tests and police professional standards in place at the time."
IOPC Deputy Director General Kathie Cashell said: “I would like to thank all the complainants who shared their very personal accounts of what happened and recognise their courage in reliving those events. Whether a complaint is upheld or not, these outcomes do not seek to challenge those accounts.”
Tributes at Anfield's Hillsborough memorial
Tributes left at the Hillsborough memorial at Anfield(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The watchdog's spokesperson added: "Our findings align with the conclusions - relating to the police - of the Hillsborough Independent Panel Report (HIP) and the Goldring Inquests.
"We agree that there were fundamental failures by South Yorkshire Police (SYP) in the planning for the match and the policing of it, as well as in its response to the disaster as it unfolded.
"Like HIP, we found there was considerable evidence that SYP did not prioritise openness and transparency in the aftermath of the disaster but instead adopted a defensive approach and sought to control the evidence submitted to the Taylor Inquiry and WMP to deflect blame.
"Our investigations found no evidence to support police accounts to the media, the Taylor Inquiry and both sets of inquests, which suggested the behaviour of supporters caused or contributed to the disaster."
Earlier this month, families and others received notification from the IOPC that that although it found officers tried to “deflect blame” the IOPC concluded they do not have a case to answer for misconduct.
The news comes after the ECHO reported yesterday that the promised new Hillsborough Law appears to be in chaos after a meeting between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the families of those unlawfully killed in the 1989 disaster was cancelled amid concerns about bill the government has pledged to bring in.
Families and campaigners are said to be deeply unhappy after a summit with the Prime Minister, scheduled for today, was scrapped. The meeting was due to address worries that the bill has been watered down and will not offer the crucial protections the families of the 97 have campaigned for over many years.
A Hillsborough Law is a package of new laws that aims to ensure other bereaved families do not go through the same painful experiences as those who lost loved ones at Hillsborough.
The bill is intended to include a statutory duty of candour on public servants, backed by criminal sanctions, to force them to tell the truth during all forms of public inquiry and criminal investigation.
The package also includes a provision for a parity of legal funding for ordinary people forced to take on large institutions following tragic events, so that bereaved families have access to public funding.