Hillsborough disaster may see officers face charges
BRITAIN: The police match commander on the day of the Hillsborough disaster and a former chief constable have been referred to prosecutors over the deaths of 96 fans and an alleged coverup.
Lawyers have been asked to consider manslaughter charges against Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield over the fatal crush of Liverpool supporters at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final.
The retired officer is included among files on 23 individuals and organisations, including the South Yorkshire police force and senior football officials, after the largest investigation yet into allegations of police wrongdoing.
The alleged offences include perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public office.
Duckenfield said yesterday: ‘‘What I said at the inquest and I will always say, is this: I have the utmost respect for the families, and that’s the reason I choose to be very brief in what I say.
‘‘I have no wish whatsoever to upset anybody and that’s all I want to say.’’
Asked how he would plead if charged, he replied: ‘‘We are looking into the future and it wouldn’t be appropriate to speculate.’’
Fans were crushed to death during the opening moments of the match against Nottingham Forest when police ordered the opening of a gate at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium.
An inquest jury concluded last year that the fans were unlawfully killed and that Duckenfield was guilty of gross negligence manslaughter.
The Operation Resolve investigation focused on the preparation for the match and events of the day.
It considered alleged offences including gross negligence manslaughter, perverting the course of justice, misconduct in public office and offences under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 and health and safety legislation.
The investigation included the role of the Football Association, emergency services, the local authority and Sheffield Wednesday Football Club.
An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation considered claims of a coverup by South Yorkshire police and West Midlands police, which carried out the initial review of the disaster.
It considered alleged offences including perverting the course of justice, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and misconduct in public office.
The IPCC investigation centred on the ‘‘controlling minds’’ of any alleged coverup and has sent files to the Crown Prosecution Service on eight officers including a retired chief constable.
The investigations included allegations of a ‘‘black propaganda’’ campaign by police to falsely pin the blame on Liverpool fans.
More than 170 claims of police misconduct continue to be investigated by both teams.
Sue Hemming, head of the CPS’s special crime division, said: ‘‘Having received files from both Hillsborough investigations, we will now assess these in order to determine whether we have sufficient material on which to make charging decisions.’’
Elkan Abrahamson, a lawyer at Broudie Jackson Canter, which represents 20 victims’ families, said: ‘‘Decisions should now be taken without further delay. We will continue to scrutinise the process and any decisions.’’
– The Times