No misconduct case for Hillsborough police - IOPC

While police officers tried to "deflect blame" after the Hillsborough disaster, they do not have a misconduct case to answer, a watchdog has told families.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) began investigations in 2013 into the tragedy, in which a 15 April 1989 crush in Sheffield resulted in the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans.

In a letter from the IOPC, seen by the Press Association, relatives were told they would shortly be informed of the outcomes of complaints made about police conduct.

It said it was unable to find that officers had a case to answer for misconduct in the "majority of cases" as policing professional standards at the time "did not include a specific duty of candour".

"Our investigations did find evidence to support allegations that, in the aftermath of the disaster, South Yorkshire Police sought to deflect the blame from themselves," the letter from Kathie Cashell, IOPC deputy director-general said.

"We found no evidence to support claims that the behaviour of supporters was a contributing factor."

She continued: "Despite the wider public interest to gain answers about what happened, South Yorkshire Police was entitled, within the law at the time, to present its 'best case' and be selective with the evidence it presented."

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged to bring forward a Hillsborough Law, which would include a legal duty of candour, by the disaster's next anniversary.

Ms Cashell said the IOPC welcomed "the government's proposed introduction of a new, stronger statutory duty of candour for all public servants, including the police".

"We believe this will strengthen the ability of our investigations to get to the truth," she added.

Reacting to the letter, Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James died in the disaster, said: "This shows it is very, very important to have the Hillsborough Law so that this type of thing can never happen again."

The IOPC investigation, launched following the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report in 2012, supported new inquests into the deaths.

The new inquests concluded in 2016 and found fans were unlawfully killed, with errors by South Yorkshire Police causing or contributing to their deaths.

Ms Cashell said the IOPC agreed there were "fundamental failures" by South Yorkshire Police in the planning and policing of the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, held at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium.

The force adopted a "defensive approach" and "sought to control evidence" afterwards, the letter said.

Ms Cashell said 354 complaints and conduct matters had been investigated, with just over half of complainants having at least one allegation upheld.

But officers who left the police force before 2017 could not face disciplinary proceedings regardless of findings due to the legislation in place at the time, she said.

"I share everyone's frustration that this has taken too long - survivors, bereaved families and all those who have campaigned for truth and accountability deserve better," she said.

South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Lauren Poultney said the force fully accepted the IOPC's finding and continued to offer an "unreserved apology" to those let down by the force at Hillsborough.

"I do not underestimate the impact on those who have had to campaign for more than 30 years to understand exactly what took place," she said.

"This should not have happened."

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