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What has been investigated?

  1. The Operation Resolve investigation examined the planning for the 1989 Semi-Final, the events of the day leading up to the disaster, the emergency response and aspects of the immediate aftermath of the disaster—notably the way that the families and friends of those who died were treated by the police and other authorities. In investigating these issues, Operation Resolve looked at the roles and responsibilities of organisations that were involved in staging the match, including (listed alphabetically): 
     
    • Eastwood & Partners, the engineering firm that advised the stadium owners, SWFC, on ground structure and layout
    • the FA, which selected Hillsborough Stadium as the venue for the match
    • SCC, the local authority that, under the Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975 (SSGA 1975), was responsible for overseeing the safety of professional sports grounds in Sheffield
    • SWFC, which owned Hillsborough Stadium
    • SYCFS, which assisted in the emergency response to the disaster
    • SYMAS, which also took part in the emergency response to the disaster
    • SYP, the force responsible for policing on the day
       
  2. Operation Resolve also investigated the actions of individuals who worked for these organisations and whether any of them may have committed criminal offences.
     
  3. The IOPC investigation focused on key aspects of the aftermath of the disaster—in particular, the allegations that police officers may have deliberately altered or suppressed evidence about the disaster and may have sought to deflect blame away from the police by focusing on the alleged behaviour of some of the Liverpool supporters. 
     
  4. The IOPC examined the actions of SYP officers in preserving, gathering and presenting evidence to the various investigations that followed the disaster, including the Taylor Inquiry and the Popper Inquests. It also examined the work of WMP, the force appointed in the days after the disaster to support these investigations and inquiries and to gather evidence for them.

The full terms of reference for both investigations are included at Appendix A.