Hillsborough decision on course to be next month
DECISIONS about prosecutions related to allegations over the involvement of South Yorkshire Police in the Hillsborough disaster and its aftermath could be made as early as next month.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is said to be on course to deliver its decisions within the six-month time frame it set out in January.
Survivors, campaigners and the families of the 96 fans who died in the tragedy will learn whether anyone from the force faces prosecution.
The CPS is currently going through evidence gathered during the criminal investigations into the disaster and its aftermath.
The disaster in April 1989 claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool FC fans, including six with links to Halton.
Runcorn father and son Thomas Howard Senior, 39, and Thomas Howard Junior, 14, died in the disaster while schoolboys Kevin Tyrrell, 15, and Adam Spearritt, 14, were also from the town.
Dad-of-one David Benson, 22, came from Penketh, but was working in the timber trade in Widnes at the time.
Peter Thompson, Widnes.
On Friday, May 12, the police 30, lived in watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) revealed the CPS ‘intends to deliver all charging decisions on the SYP evidence file within its original sixmonth time frame’.
Decisions stemming from the West Midlands Police (WMP) evidence file will be made separately.
That follows the need for ‘ additional investigative work’ on the WMP file, which is ‘well advanced and we [the IPCC] expect to finish and submit this by the end of May’.
The force investigated the 1989 tragedy on behalf of South Yorkshire Police, and has faced accusations it was part of a cover-up in the years after. In January, it was announced that 23 individuals and organisations could face criminal charges.
That came as the bodies overseeing the two criminal probes launched in 2012 – the IPCC and Operation Resolve – reported their findings to the CPS.
Of the two probes, Operation Resolve has focused on planning and preparation ahead of the tragic FA Cup semi-final, while the IPCC has looked at allegations of a police cover up following the unlawful killing of 96 Reds fans.
In its monthly update on the Hillsborough investigation, the IPCC yesterday added a probe into a Hillsborough-related allegation against a retired SYP officer had been placed on hold.
Durham Constabulary, which is investigating the allegation, will resume its enquiries after the CPS has made its decisions.
Since January, the IPCC has been examining over 170 allegations of misconduct against police officers, including complaints from the family members of victims and survivors of the disaster, and matters that have been identified during the course of its enquiry.
A statement said: “Findings will be set out in individual investigation reports, which will form part of a more extensive final report containing comprehensive findings from both our investigations.”