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Twelve police officers would have faced gross misconduct proceedings for their failures during and after 1989. Hillsborough stadium football tragedy, a long-running investigation has found.
In the latest developments after Britain’s worst sporting accident, which killed 97 people liverpool Fans, a report – published on Tuesday – also upheld or found cases to answer for misconduct in 92 complaints about police action.
However, the law at the time meant that none of the officers faced disciplinary proceedings as they all retired before the investigation began in 2012.
The Hillsborough disaster unfolded on April 15, 1989, when more than 2,000 Liverpool fans were allowed to stand behind a goal at Sheffield’s Hillsborough Stadium. The 54,000-capacity stadium was already almost full for the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest. The victims were crushed by metal anti-riot fencing or trampled underfoot, and many were suffocated.
An original investigation in 1991 found that the deaths were accidental, which the victims’ families refused to accept. Those findings were overturned in 2012 after a far-reaching inquiry into the disaster, which examined previously secret documents and exposed wrongdoing and mistakes by police. In 2016, a jury found that the victims were “unlawfully executed.”
‘Another bitter injustice’
The Independent Office for Police Conduct began an investigation into the tragedy in 2012. The findings published in the report released on Tuesday were described by some bereaved families as “another bitter injustice”.
Nicola Brook, a lawyer representing several families, said: “This outcome may vindicate the bereaved families and survivors who have fought for decades to uncover the truth – but it provides no justice.” “Instead, it exposes a system that has allowed officers to retire without scrutiny, sanction or consequences for failing to meet the standards expected by the public.
“Yes, the law has now changed so this loophole cannot be used in the future. But for those affected by this case, that is no consolation. They are left with another bitter injustice: the truth was finally acknowledged but accountability was denied.”
false narrative
With hooliganism becoming rife in English football in the 1980s, immediate attempts were made to place blame on Liverpool fans and defend the policing operation. A false story blaming drunken, ticketless and unruly Liverpool fans was created by the police, only to be changed by a campaign by the bereaved families.
Had he still been serving he would have had cases to answer for gross misconduct, among them Peter Wright, the then Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, who died in 2011, and david duckenfieldWho was the match commander.
Those working on the investigation said victims, their families and survivors were repeatedly let down.
“First,” said Kathy Cashel, deputy director general of the IOPC, “the deep complacency of South Yorkshire Police in the run-up to the match, followed by its fundamental failure to prevent the disaster as it unfolded, and then the force’s concerted efforts to shift the blame to Liverpool supporters, which has caused enormous distress to bereaved families and survivors for almost four decades.
“They were again disappointed by the inexplicably narrow investigation of the disaster conducted by West Midlands Police, which missed an opportunity to bring these failings to light much sooner.”
According to the report, two West Midlands officers who led the investigation into the disaster – Mervyn Jones, who was assistant chief constable, and then Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Foster – were referred to prosecutors for their failings, but the threshold for prosecution was not met.
The IOPC said both former officers would have a case to answer for gross misconduct after failing to conduct a rigorous investigation because they were “biased towards the force and towards supporters.”
Duckenfield, now 81 and was chief superintendent on the day of the tragedy, was cleared of manslaughter by gross negligence by a jury in 2019. The IOPC report said he “fell into trouble” and found he had a case to answer for gross misconduct in relation to 10 charges, including failing to respond and failing to tell FA officials – which he later admitted was false – that fans had forcibly entered the stadium.
only conviction
The only person to be convicted as a result of the investigation following the tragedy was the former Sheffield Wednesday Club secretary. Graham MackrellHe was fined £6,500 (now $8,500) and ordered to pay costs of £5,000 (now $6,600) after being found guilty of failing to ensure the health and safety of fans attending the ground. Hillsborough is Wednesday’s home ground.
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