Documents show that around this time, there was an initial discussion between Dr Popper and WMP about the possibility of splitting the inquests into two phases: an initial phase where the evidence heard would be strictly limited to avoid any conflict with possible prosecutions, followed by a broader examination once all criminal matters were dealt with. The rationale for doing so was simply that it had already been a long time since the disaster and that families had not yet received any “official explanation” of how their loved ones died. However, at this point, both Dr Popper and the WMP officers involved, including ACC Jones, agreed that it would be too difficult to control what evidence would be heard in the initial phase.
A few weeks later, the position changed. Dr Popper had received a letter from the secretary of the Hillsborough Steering Committee (HSC), a group of solicitors who represented most of the bereaved families and those injured in the Hillsborough disaster. The letter asked Dr Popper to progress as soon as possible, because the solicitors needed information about the movements of those who died, to assist in settling civil litigation claims.
With the full agreement of ACC Jones, Dr Popper wrote to the DPP to propose the resumption of the inquests in early spring on a limited basis. The DPP accepted the request and planning promptly began for what would become the individual inquests.
