A new Independent Office for Police Conduct report says twelve former officers would have faced gross misconduct cases over their roles in the Hillsborough disaster and its aftermath – but none will be disciplined because all had retired before investigations began.
00:00An investigation into the Hillsborough disaster has found 12 police officers would have faced gross misconduct proceedings for fundamental failures on the day and concerted efforts to blame fans in the aftermath.
00:13A report published on Tuesday by the Independent Office for Police Conduct also upheld or found cases to answer for misconduct in 92 complaints about police actions, but the law at the time means no officer will face disciplinary proceedings because they had all retired before investigations began.
00:32The report identifies fundamental failures by South Yorkshire Police in planning for the FA Cup semi-final on the 15th of April 1989.
00:40According to the IOPC, those who would have faced cases for gross misconduct, if still serving, include the then South Yorkshire Chief Constable Peter Wright, Match Commander David Duckenfield and Sir Norman Bettersen.
00:54The report also notes that allegations blaming supporters were wholly refuted during the new inquest in 2016, which concluded that the fans were unlawfully killed.
01:02IOPC Deputy Director General Cathy Cashel says victims, families and survivors have been repeatedly let down from the preparation for the match through the handling of the disaster and in the forces actions in the many years that followed.
01:17Criticism also extends to West Midlands Police, whose separate investigation into the disaster was described by the IOPC as inexplicably narrow, missing an opportunity to expose failings much earlier.
01:29Two West Midlands officers were referred to the Crown Prosecution Service, but the threshold for prosecution was not met.
01:36For many of the bereaved, this report brings recognition of wrongdoing, but not the accountability they have campaigned for.
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