Officers would have faced misconduct over Hillsborough

"Twelve police officers would have faced gross misconduct proceedings over the Hillsborough disaster, a long-awaited report has found. Former South Yorkshire Police (SYP) chief constable Peter Wright and Ch Supt David Duckenfield are among the officers who would have had cases to answer after 97 Liverpool fans died in the 1989 stadium crush."

"The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) report found there had been "fundamental failures" and "concerted efforts" to blame fans in the aftermath. It also upheld or found misconduct cases in 92 complaints, but the law at the time means no officers will face disciplinary proceedings because they had all retired before investigations began in 2012. Follow live: Hillsborough report into police conduct to be released The law was changed in 2017 to mean retired officers would now face misconduct charges, but it cannot be applied retrospectively."

"Nicola Brook, a solicitor at Broudie Jackson Canter acting for several bereaved families, said it was a "bitter injustice" that no-one would be held to account. Current South Yorkshire Police chief constable Lauren Poultney said she was "deeply sorry for the pain and heartbreak caused" by the force's "litany of failures". "There is nothing I can say today which can take away the years of pain and hurt caused by the force I now lead," she said. Ms Brook said the IOPC report "exposes a system that has allowed officers to simply walk away, retiring without scrutiny, sanction or consequence for failing to meet the standards the public has every right to expect"."

The IOPC investigation found "fundamental failures" and "concerted efforts" to blame fans after the 1989 Hillsborough stadium crush that killed 97 Liverpool supporters. Twelve officers, including former SYP chief constable Peter Wright and Ch Supt David Duckenfield, would have faced gross misconduct proceedings and 92 complaints were upheld or found to involve misconduct. No disciplinary proceedings can take place because all implicated officers had retired before investigations began in 2012. The law was changed in 2017 to allow retired officers to face misconduct charges, but the change is not retrospective. Bereaved families' representatives described the outcome as a bitter injustice and said the report exposes a system that allowed officers to retire without scrutiny. Current South Yorkshire Police leadership offered an apology for the force's failures.

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