Hillsborough Families Voice Fresh Concerns as Long-Awaited Police Report Nears Publication

Families of victims from the tragic Hillsborough disaster are once again expressing deep concerns over accountability, as a long-awaited report into police conduct surrounding the stadium crush is slated for release on Tuesday. Doubts are emerging from various sources, including individuals who worked on the extensive Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation, suggesting the report may fall short of delivering the comprehensive answers promised to survivors and bereaved relatives.

The IOPC has dedicated more than 13 years to scrutinizing the actions of South Yorkshire Police and other forces following the 1989 disaster, which claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool supporters during an FA Cup semi-final at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough ground. While initially planned as a multi-thousand-page document, the watchdog will now publish a “more focused” 400-page version. This adjustment, the IOPC stated, was prompted by “concerns” from survivors and relatives regarding sensitive material and aims to prevent undermining prior inquiries.

However, this decision has caused considerable disappointment among families. Jenni Hicks, who lost her teenage daughters Sarah and Victoria at Hillsborough, expressed her preference for families to review the original, longer report before any publication decision. “I am not expecting any great revelations,” she shared, adding, “I’m very disappointed that we are not getting the full report. I would have liked to have seen what it’s taken 13 years to produce.” Sources speaking to Millenium TV indicate a belief that the investigation has been hindered by internal disagreements, overlapping inquiries, and a noticeable lack of momentum. Mike Benbow, who previously helmed the investigation for five years, highlighted the critical role of the process in rebuilding trust. “The investigation was partly about trying to restore faith and trust in a judicial process that had let families down for many years,” Benbow explained. “It remains to be seen whether we have achieved closure for anyone. After 13 years, people deserve more than a 400-page report.” Another individual closely involved, who wished to remain anonymous, described the forthcoming document as “the equivalent of doing a house viewing through a keyhole,” suggesting it “will tell you absolutely nothing. It will just be an executive summary and a timeline of what went on.”

The IOPC investigation ran concurrently with Operation Resolve, a criminal inquiry focusing on the day of the disaster. Both were established in 2012 following shocking revelations of a widespread cover-up, where police leaders were found to have propagated false narratives blaming Liverpool fans and suppressed evidence of their own significant failings. At that time, officials promised an unprecedented era of transparency, igniting hope among the bereaved and survivors who had sought answers for over two decades. Deborah Glass, then deputy chair of the IPCC (the IOPC’s predecessor), emphasized the critical nature of their work in 2013, stating, “Hillsborough has a history of failed inquiries done by other bodies leading to results that people had no confidence in. We can’t have more of that. What we need to deliver here is the last definitive investigation into Hillsborough so the next generation isn’t still looking for answers. We have to succeed.”

Millenium TV analysis of accounts reveals that over £150 million has been spent across the IOPC and Operation Resolve investigations. This substantial sum includes more than £56 million on IOPC staff, which at its peak numbered around 200 employees, at least £10 million on dedicated accommodation in Warrington, and up to £18,000 annually on stationery. Early stages of the investigation presented immense practical and technological hurdles, with teams having to process original police notebooks, some of which required cleaning of rat droppings after being stored for 25 years. Evidence on VHS tapes and floppy disks necessitated the resurrection of 1980s computer systems, and modern facial recognition tools were employed to meticulously track fans’ movements. Despite the unprecedented scale and initial sense of purpose, the optimism among survivors and families has significantly waned over the past 13 years.

The disappointment intensified after criminal trials concluded without significant convictions, including the acquittal of police commander David Duckenfield. Many bereaved relatives have since lost faith in the process, recognizing that all involved police officers had either retired or passed away, rendering sanctions for misconduct impossible. Ms. Hicks voiced her apprehension regarding the investigation’s cost: “I hope it’s not going to be a waste of taxpayers’ money. We’ve just had the Budget and people are struggling. Perhaps the money would have been better spent on the NHS, or somewhere else it’s desperately needed.” Charlotte Hennessy, whose father James was killed in the disaster when she was just six, explained that the protracted investigations, alongside the initial cover-up, have cast a long shadow over her adult life. “The process has been extremely lengthy and I have no doubt it will only leave us feeling frustrated,” she remarked. “We want to be able to live our lives but we keep getting pulled back into this.” She also expressed discomfort over the public funds utilized, stating, “You can’t put a price on my dad’s life but I would never have wanted public money to be used in this way. It’s an appalling waste.”

Families received the full report on Monday, though those who filed complaints had already been informed of the outcomes. Many complaints were not upheld, with the IOPC citing insufficient evidence. This has been particularly difficult for complainants who believed ample evidence was presented in the 2012 Hillsborough Independent Panel report, which exposed the cover-up, and further detailed during subsequent inquests. Ms. Hennessy, for example, had lodged a complaint alleging police gross negligence after the 2016 Hillsborough inquests suggested her father might have survived with better emergency medical care. She has now been informed that the IOPC found no case to answer. “I’m really frustrated,” she declared. “They’ve had a decade to write this and I don’t think it’s worth the paper it’s written on. No number of reports will change the facts.” Debbie Matthews, whose brother Brian was among the 97 victims, submitted two complaints alleging officers fabricated evidence and provided false statements. One complaint was not upheld, while the other was deemed outside the investigation’s scope. “We’ve already been through hell and back and it feels like they are kicking us again,” Ms. Matthews stated. “We are really, really frustrated. Our mental health is suffering really badly because of this.”

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has voiced his hope that the report will lead to accountability for senior police officers from that era. “The campaign we worked on established the truth about Hillsborough… that there was a failure of police control at an unsafe ground,” he explained last week. “What it has never achieved is individual accountability on officers who led a cover-up and attempted to blame the Liverpool supporters.” The report’s publication coincides with the ongoing parliamentary passage of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, widely recognized as the Hillsborough Law. This crucial legislation aims to guarantee greater transparency and accountability for victims of major incidents in the future, establishing a legal duty for public bodies to be truthful and fully cooperate with investigations. The bill has the support of Sir Keir Starmer, who Ms. Hennessy confirmed personally promised her its implementation. Mr. Burnham has also reiterated his call for a permanent victims’ advocate body to support bereaved families in holding institutions accountable.

Many who once held hope now approach the IOPC’s findings with a sense of resignation. Families who celebrated the Independent Panel report’s publication and rejoiced after the inquests verdicts in 2016 felt they were uncovering the truth but still yearned for justice and accountability. An IOPC spokesperson acknowledged the shared frustrations, stating, “We share the frustrations of survivors, bereaved families and all of those who have campaigned so long for answers – and we have said to them, they deserve better. Our investigations are part of what have been very lengthy and unprecedented processes.”