A newly released report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has found that 12 former police officers involved in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster and its subsequent cover-up would have faced gross misconduct proceedings if they were still serving. The findings have led to renewed outrage from victims’ families, who described the outcome as a “bitter injustice” because no one will face accountability.
Truth Acknowledged, Justice Denied
The long-awaited final report, which marks the culmination of the largest-ever investigation into alleged police misconduct in England and Wales, confirmed a catalogue of failures:
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Systemic Failures: The IOPC cited the “deep complacency” of South Yorkshire Police in its preparation for the match and its “fundamental failure” to manage the disaster as it unfolded, which led to the unlawful killing of 97 Liverpool fans.
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Blame Deflection: The report documented “concerted efforts” by the police to deflect blame onto the Liverpool supporters, causing decades of distress for the bereaved families and survivors. The former Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, Peter Wright (who is deceased), was among those who would have faced gross misconduct for his part in this campaign of lies.
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Flawed Investigation: The inquiry also heavily criticised the subsequent investigation led by West Midlands Police, finding it to be “inexplicably narrow” and biased in favour of South Yorkshire Police.
The Loophole of Retirement
Crucially, despite the damning findings, the IOPC confirmed that no officer will face disciplinary action. This is due to a legal loophole that existed at the time of the investigation, which prevented officers who had retired before December 2017 from being subjected to misconduct proceedings.
“This outcome may vindicate the bereaved families and survivors who have fought for decades to expose the truth—but it delivers no justice,” said Nicola Brook, a lawyer representing several families. “Instead, it exposes a system that has allowed officers to simply walk away, retiring without scrutiny, sanction or consequence.”
The families, who have fought for 36 years, have welcomed the findings as a final acknowledgement of the truth they knew all along, but their grief is compounded by the lack of accountability.
Hillsborough Law: A Legacy for Future Victims
Campaigners successfully fought for the enactment of the “Hillsborough Law” (Public Office Accountability Bill), which is currently progressing through Parliament. This law, a direct legacy of the Hillsborough families’ ordeal, seeks to deter future institutional cover-ups by imposing a legal duty of candour on public officials.
While the new law ensures this loophole cannot be used in future tragedies, the families of the 97 victims—some of whom passed away waiting for this report—are left with the difficult reality that despite the truth being established, the individuals responsible for their suffering will never be held to account.700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 822
