Families mourning the victims of the Hillsborough disaster expressed disappointment over the lack of justice following the release of a long-awaited report on police behavior. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) dedicated 13 years and £150 million to investigate the tragic 1989 stadium crush that claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool fans during an FA Cup semi-final at Sheffield Wednesday’s stadium.
The investigation uncovered that 12 police officers would have faced severe misconduct charges for significant shortcomings on the day of the disaster and attempts to shift blame onto fans afterward. While 92 complaints about police actions were upheld or found to have merit, the outdated laws prevent any disciplinary actions as the officers in question had retired before investigations commenced.
Contrary to initial claims by South Yorkshire Police blaming disorderly behavior by Liverpool supporters, the report confirmed these allegations were baseless after years of campaigning by the affected families. Following the 2016 inquests that ruled the deaths as unlawful killings, the IOPC identified key figures like Peter Wright, David Duckenfield, and Sir Norman Bettison as potential subjects for gross misconduct charges if still in service.
Despite the revelations, David Duckenfield’s wife dismissed the new report as containing “nothing new,” expressing her husband’s reluctance to engage with its findings. Similarly, Sir Norman’s spouse declined to comment on the report, emphasizing his decision to remain silent.
Legal representatives for bereaved families criticized the outcome, pointing out over a hundred instances of misconduct identified without any officers facing disciplinary measures. The lack of accountability in the face of acknowledged failings raised concerns about the fairness of the system and the impact on those seeking closure.
The extensive 400-page report released by the IOPC is a condensed version of the full document, expected to be cataloged in the National Archives next year. The report marks the most substantial independent inquiry into alleged police misconduct and criminality in England and Wales to date.
Survivors and relatives of the victims expressed skepticism over the report’s ability to provide satisfactory answers, lamenting the prolonged process and perceived lack of tangible outcomes. The extensive investigations following the Hillsborough tragedy were initiated in 2012 after the release of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report.
The IOPC’s deputy director general highlighted the repeated failures that compounded the tragedy, emphasizing the mishandling of the disaster by South Yorkshire Police, the subsequent blame-shifting to fans, and the inadequate investigations that followed. The failure to address these systemic flaws promptly was underscored as a missed opportunity for accountability and justice.
While some officers faced potential charges for gross misconduct, including Duckenfield and his colleagues, the inability to prosecute key figures due to legal thresholds raised concerns about accountability. The report exposed a series of institutional failures and biases that perpetuated the lack of justice for the victims and their families, deepening the sense of frustration and disillusionment among those affected by the tragedy.