The end of the rescue effort

1. The efforts of those involved at the front of the pens and in taking casualties away had an impact. By 3.30pm, the front of Pen 3 had been cleared of casualties. This was 25 minutes after Supt Greenwood had caused the match to be stopped.
    
2. Tragically, this was already too late for many. At 3.29pm, an entry on the Force Control Room extended incident log recorded that the PCB requested that the Sheffield city mortuary, located at the Medico-Legal Centre (MLC), should be warned “to expect several bodies.”
    
3. There was still a major medical effort, including at the back of the West Stand, to try to resuscitate some and treat others.
    
4. There were also still large numbers of supporters on the pitch, and some police officers were concerned that there was a risk of confrontation between opposing supporters, with some Nottingham Forest supporters in the Spion Kop area chanting and whistling. This led to the police forming further cordons, to prevent Liverpool supporters on the pitch from reaching the areas allocated to Nottingham Forest. By 15:38:30, police officers had formed a cordon in front of the Spion Kop, near the edge of the penalty box.

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Figure 5N: A police cordon in front of the Spion Kop, 15:38:30 (Source: SYP)

1. The cordon then moved up the pitch guiding supporters back towards the Leppings Lane end. There were no confrontations between rival supporters.
    
2. Shortly before the cordon was formed, at 3.37pm, two police officers on the pitch close to the Spion Kop had their truncheons drawn. This took place at a time when some Liverpool supporters were making their way towards the Nottingham Forest end of the ground. The footage shows that the truncheons were not used to strike anyone and were put away within moments of them being drawn. 
    
3. Operation Resolve conducted a comprehensive review of all available video footage, in response to allegations that police officers used truncheons, sticks, canes or batons to prevent supporters seeking to escape from the West Terrace. This was the only instance found of police officers drawing their truncheons during the whole day. Operation Resolve did not identify any footage that supports the allegations. It should be noted that the footage, though extensive, is not continuous.
    
4. Further, Operation Resolve did not identify anyone who said they were struck by a police officer with a truncheon or something similar while climbing on or over the perimeter fence of the West Terrace.
    
5. SWFC CCTV footage shows that supporters and police officers continued to carry casualties through Gate C to ambulances that were still arriving. In total, SWFC CCTV filmed the arrival of 20 ambulances. The last casualty was carried out of the ground by supporters and police officers at 3.51pm.
    
6. At 3.56pm, Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish gave a message over the stadium PA to ask supporters to remain calm and cooperate with the police. At 4.17pm, a further message was broadcast to inform supporters that the match had been abandoned. By around 4.40pm, Ch Supt Mole arrived at the stadium and went to the PCB, where he assumed command of the remaining operations, allowing Ch Supt Duckenfield and ACC Jackson to return to SYP HQ to brief the Chief Constable.
    
7. The focus shifted from the situation on the pitch to the gymnasium and the hospitals, which are examined in chapter 6.