New Hillsborough report: summary of findings of IOPC and Operation Resolve investigations published  

A report published today sets out a summary of the wide-ranging investigations conducted by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and Operation Resolve into the role of the police in the Hillsborough disaster and its aftermath.  

Our findings reinforce, and build upon, those of the Hillsborough Independent Panel (HIP) Report published in 2012.  

Both investigations supported the Goldring Inquests—providing more than a million pages of documentation and hundreds of hours of audio-visual footage—which determined in 2016 that all those who died were unlawfully killed.  

The investigations again found no evidence to support police accounts that the behaviour of supporters caused or was a contributing factor to the disaster.  

We found South Yorkshire Police (SYP) fundamentally failed in its planning for the match, in its response as the disaster unfolded and in how it dealt with traumatised supporters and families searching for their loved ones. 

There is considerable evidence of the defensive approach adopted by SYP to the investigations and inquiries that followed, as it attempted to deflect the blame. This included allegations about the behaviour of supporters, which have been repeatedly disproven.  

For the first time, we examined the actions of West Midlands Police (WMP), which had been tasked with investigating the disaster and supporting the Taylor Inquiry. We found this investigation to be wholly unsatisfactory and too narrow. We also found evidence to indicate that the actions of two senior WMP officers were biased in favour of SYP.   

Speaking about the new report, IOPC Deputy Director General Kathie Cashell said:  

“I would like to thank everyone who supported our investigations by sharing their very personal accounts of what happened in 1989 and the years that followed, and to pay tribute to the courage they have shown in revisiting those events.  

“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.  

“First by the deep complacency of South Yorkshire Police in its preparation for the match, followed by its fundamental failure to grip the disaster as it unfolded, and then through the force’s concerted efforts to deflect the blame onto the Liverpool supporters, which caused enormous distress to bereaved families and survivors for nearly four decades. They were let down again by the inexplicably narrow investigation into the disaster conducted by West Midlands Police, which was a missed opportunity to bring these failings to light much sooner. 

“What they have had to endure over more than 36 years is a source of national shame.” 

We carried out 161 separate investigations into 352 complaints and conduct matters. More than 100 of the complaints related to the actions of senior officers at SYP and WMP, who were integral to either the policing of the match or involved in the aftermath of the disaster. 

Our findings include that: 

• the SYP Chief Constable at the time, would have had a case to answer for gross misconduct, had he still been serving, for his part in attempting to minimise culpability and deflect blame for the disaster away from SYP and towards Liverpool supporters 
• nine other SYP officers would have had a case to answer for gross misconduct, if still serving, for their role in preparing for and policing the match, their handling of the response to the disaster as it unfolded or their part in the defensive response and attempts to deflect the blame
• a WMP assistant chief constable and detective chief superintendent would have had cases to answer for gross misconduct, had they still been serving, in relation to their roles leading the investigation into the disaster, including for alleged bias towards police and against supporters 
• 92 complaints about police actions have been upheld or individuals would have had a case to answer relating to the planning and preparation of the match, the investigation by WMP into the actions of SYP, what officers said in the aftermath of the disaster and officers’ behaviour towards families and survivors  
• 327 statements from officers were found to have been amended, over 100 more than had previously been uncovered, as part of a defensive approach SYP adopted to control the evidence submitted to the Taylor Inquiry and WMP  

Where we have not been able to uphold a complaint or give an opinion that an officer would have a case to answer, the outcomes do not seek to challenge the accounts of those who complained. 

Where evidence was missing, contradictory or otherwise incomplete, we were unable to meet the necessary legal requirements to uphold complaints or justify an opinion that an individual would have had a case to answer for misconduct.  

Ms Cashell continued:

“Today’s publication is the culmination of lengthy processes, including the longest inquests in English legal history and a number of criminal trials, which our investigations supported. 

“As I have expressed to those closely affected, this process has taken too long—those who campaigned for so many years deserve better.    

“It is important to remember that the forces we investigated are different to the ones they are today. Policing has seen many changes since 1989 and now, thanks to the tireless campaign of the families and survivors, the Public Office Accountability Bill will introduce a legal duty of candour for all public officials.   

“I hope this report serves as a timely reminder of what happens when organisations focus on protecting their reputation rather than admitting their mistakes and acting to put things right.

“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. Had that duty existed, our investigations may not have been necessary at all.”  

The report can be found at policeconduct.gov.uk/hillsborough