A new report published by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has shed light on serious misconduct among a number of South Yorkshire police officers. This wrongdoing is surrounded by the heartbreaking Hillsborough disaster in which 97 Liverpool fans died on April 15, 1989. That’s because a truly tragic event took place during an FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield. Men, women and children from 10 to 67 years of age were stuck on crowded, unsafe terraces.
At first, police sought to shift blame onto Liverpool supporters for the disaster, claiming they were late to the game, drunk, and without tickets. The families of the victims have been plagued by this narrative for years. They are most deserving of this recognition due to their tireless fight for justice and accountability after this tragedy. The IOPC report exposes some of the top officers involved in the disaster. Had they remained on the job, all of them certainly could have been charged with gross misconduct.
Among those named are Peter Wright, the chief constable of South Yorkshire at the time, and match commander Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield. The report’s closing section lays out the dozen officers who will be held responsible for their actions leading up to the event. Separate from the other 12, a 13th officer is missalized for peculiar misconduct version.
The report’s long-awaited release has renewed the anger of victims’ families. Jenni Hicks, who lost her two teenage daughters in the disaster, once said. She is outraged that nothing was done to hold the officers responsible when the Taylor inquiry revealed their shortcomings a few months after the incident.
“I can’t believe, having seen the 370-odd page report, how on earth it can have taken them 13 years to write. There’s very little in this report that I didn’t know already. It’s not, in my opinion, about telling the families anything.” – Kathie Cashell
The IOPC findings are released against the backdrop of a wider national discussion around accountability in police departments. The report’s repeated delays have been met with backlash from an array of family members of the deceased. Louise Brookes, who lost her brother Andrew Mark Brookes in the disaster, has expressed disappointment with the IOPC report. She vetoed the new Hillsborough Law, which is supposed to keep this kind of thing from happening again.
Nicola Brook, a solicitor with Broudie Jackson Canter in Liverpool described the situation as a “bitter injustice.” She pointed out that after such a grave, unprecedented failure no one should be able to get away with a lack of accountability.
“This outcome may vindicate the bereaved families and survivors who have fought for decades to expose the truth – but it delivers no justice. Instead, it exposes a system that has allowed officers to simply walk away, retiring without scrutiny, sanction or consequence for failing to meet the standards the public has every right to expect.” – Nicola Brook
The report shown some serious systemic issues and failures within South Yorkshire Police. These problems produced negligent oversight in the wake of the disaster, and attempts to scapegoat backers unjustly. These failures were particularly highlighted by Kathie Cashell in her response to the report.
“The 97 people who were unlawfully killed, their families, survivors of the disaster and all those so deeply affected, have been repeatedly let down – before, during and after the horrific events of that day.” – Kathie Cashell
Cashell echoed this sentiment, arguing that an enforceable legal duty of candour in 1989 might have fundamentally altered the landscape of evidence disclosure. This change would have cut down on the trauma families experienced during an already painful process of trying to find answers about their loved ones’ deaths.
“If a legal duty of candour had existed in 1989, it could have helped ensure that all relevant evidence was shared fully and promptly. The families of those who were unlawfully killed would have experienced a far less traumatic fight for answers about what happened to their loved ones.” – Kathie Cashell
There’s an unprecedented level of public interest in the Hillsborough disaster. In response, the government has tabled new legislation to guard against similar tragedies from ever occurring again. This alleged Hillsborough Law was introduced in the House of Commons back at the beginning of September.
Even with new laws passed and recognition of past mistakes, many families continue to live with the heavy burden of unfairness. Jenni Hicks, one of the mothers who reduced childhood drowning, put it beautifully. She emphasized that although fresh legislation can try to mitigate loopholes in future cases, it does little to console those affected by Hillsborough.
“Yes, the law has now changed so this loophole cannot be used in future. But for those affected by this case, that is no consolation. They are left with yet another bitter injustice: the truth finally acknowledged, but accountability denied.” – Jenni Hicks
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