Hillsborough report says police ‘failed and shifted blame to fans’

Twelve police officers have reportedly faced prosecution for serious misconduct over the Hillsborough disaster, according to a long-awaited report.

Former South Yorkshire Police (SYP) Chief Constable Peter Wright and Superintendent David Duckenfield are among the officers who would have had cases to answer after 97 Liverpool fans died in the stadium crush in 1989.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) report found there were “fundamental failings” and “concerted efforts” to blame fans after the incident.

It also confirmed or found cases of misconduct in 92 complaints, but the law at the time meant no officers would face disciplinary proceedings because they had all retired before investigations began in 2012.

The law was changed in 2017 to mean retired officers would now face misconduct charges, but it cannot be applied retrospectively.

Nicola Brook, a solicitor at Broudie Jackson Canter who represents several bereaved families, said it was a “bitter injustice” that no one was held to account.

South Yorkshire’s current chief constable, Lauren Poultney, said she was “deeply sorry for the pain and anguish caused” by the force’s “litany of failures”.

“There is nothing I can say today that can take away the years of pain and suffering caused by the force I now lead,” he said.

Brook said the IOPC report “exposes a system that has allowed officers to simply walk away, walk away without scrutiny, sanction or consequences for failing to meet the standards the public has every right to expect.”

The report also found that a 13th officer, now retired, from South Yorkshire Police, would have faced misconduct proceedings.

Its publication marks the conclusion of the largest independent investigation into police misconduct ever undertaken in England and Wales.

The families of the fans, who died as a result of the crush at the FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday’s home stadium, are understood to have received copies of the report on Monday.

Key takeaways from the 366-page document include:

• The late Mr Wright would have faced a case for 10 alleged breaches of the Police Disciplinary Code in relation to his actions after the disaster.
• Former CH Supt David Duckenfield, who was match commander, would have faced 10 alleged infringements for “failures in decision-making and communication in relation to the management of the build-up to the game”, as well as a “number of key control failures as the crowd built up”.
• Eight other SYP officials would have had cases to answer over their role in preparing for and policing the match, their handling of the response to the disaster or their role in attempts to deflect blame afterwards.
• Former WMP Deputy Chief Constable Mervyn Jones and Detective Constable Michael Foster have reportedly had cases to answer over their roles in leading the investigation into the disaster, including for “alleged bias towards the police and their supporters” and “failing to intervene in the SYP account amendment process”.

IOPC deputy director-general Kathie Cashell said those affected by the disaster had been repeatedly let down.

“What they have had to endure for more than 36 years is a source of national shame,” he said.

The IOPC investigation was developed alongside Operation Resolve, a criminal investigation focused on the day of the disaster.

Cashell said the watchdog’s investigation, which included work carried out to prepare evidence for investigations and prosecutions, cost £88m, while Operation Resolve cost a further £65m.

The operation resulted in six people facing criminal charges, including Mr Duckenfield and three other police officers.

But only former Sheffield Wednesday Football Club secretary Graham Mackrell was convicted over the disaster.

Cashell said: “The 97 people who were unlawfully killed, their families, the survivors of the disaster and all those 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 their preparation for the match, followed by their fundamental failure to control the disaster as it unfolded, and then by the force’s concerted efforts to deflect blame onto Liverpool supporters, causing enormous distress to bereaved families and survivors for almost four decades.

“They were once again let down by the inexplicably narrow investigation into the disaster by West Midlands Police, which was a missed opportunity to bring these failings to light much sooner.”

He added that it was important to remember that the forces investigated were different to the current ones and that the police had undergone many changes since 1989.

Home Minister Shabana Mahmood said the report served as “a stark reminder of one of the biggest police failures the country has ever seen.”

He paid tribute to the families and survivors of the disaster and said their “tireless campaigning” had led to the creation of the Hillsborough Act earlier this year, which introduces a legal duty of candor for all public officials.

Hilda Hammond, whose 14-year-old son Philip died in the tragedy, described her frustration at the lack of action taken against “certain police officers”, adding that the report was “like rubbing salt on a very old wound”.

Mrs Hammond’s husband Phil was president of the Hillsborough Family Support Group and a leading Hillsborough campaigner, but died in January.

She told the BBC that the report “brings it all back” and “makes you think you wouldn’t mind going through that if you got some action at the end.”

He said it was “sweet and bittersweet” that Philip had died before the final report was published.

“I don’t know if I would have wanted him to really see it, because it’s like you’re right all the time, but we can’t do anything about it.

“We have said from the beginning what the truth was, and now it is too late to do anything about it, so all police officers cannot be disciplined, even if they were still alive or retired.”

He said he believes it was “cruel” and “a pretty fruitless exercise.”

“I just don’t know what the purpose or reason was for spending so much money,” he added.

Mike Benbow, who previously led the inquiry for five years, said: “After 13 years, people deserve more than a 400-page report.”

“It just doesn’t seem right. I’m told there will be a more detailed report later, but I hope the IOPC will reconsider…”

He added: “I don’t understand the logic of this because clearly the criminal proceedings ended a long time ago and they have spent almost five years producing the reports.”