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Families of the 97 victims of the Hillsborough disaster are voicing significant apprehension that the long-awaited report into police conduct, slated for release this Tuesday, may once again deny them the full accountability they have sought for decades. Insiders privy to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation, including a former director, have cast doubt on whether the report will provide the comprehensive answers survivors and bereaved relatives were promised, with some cautioning it could lead to renewed accusations of a cover-up.
The extensive investigation, spanning over 13 years and deemed the largest of its kind in England and Wales, has also drawn criticism from families regarding its prolonged duration and substantial cost. The police watchdog spent more than a decade scrutinizing the actions of South Yorkshire Police and other forces following the 1989 stadium crush during an FA Cup semi-final.
Initially planned as a multi-thousand-page document, the IOPC has now opted to release a “more focused” 400-page version. This change, according to the IOPC, was prompted by “concerns” from survivors and relatives regarding sensitive material and aims to avoid undermining previous inquiries. Jenni Hicks, who tragically lost her teenage daughters Sarah and Victoria at Hillsborough, expressed her profound disappointment at not receiving the full report.
“I am not expecting any great revelations,” Hicks told Millenium TV. “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 close to the investigation suggest the process has been hindered by internal disagreements, overlapping inquiries, and a noticeable lack of momentum. Mike Benbow, who previously led the investigation for five years, stated, “The investigation was partly about trying to restore faith and trust in a judicial process that had let families down for many years. It remains to be seen whether we have achieved closure for anyone. After 13 years, people deserve more than a 400-page report.”
Another insider, speaking anonymously, described the impending release as “the equivalent of doing a house viewing through a keyhole,” suggesting it would offer little insight beyond an executive summary and a timeline. Millenium TV has learned the full, extensive report will eventually be placed in the National Archives, with the transfer expected to begin next year, though no specific deadline has been announced.
The IOPC investigation ran concurrently with Operation Resolve, a criminal inquiry focused on the events of the disaster itself. Both inquiries were established in 2012 after 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 failings. Officials at the time pledged a new era of transparency and accountability.
In 2013, Deborah Glass, then deputy chair of the IPCC (the IOPC’s predecessor), conveyed to reporters her hope that the investigation could be concluded within two years. “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,” she stated, emphasizing the need for a definitive investigation to provide lasting answers.
An analysis of the accounts reveals that more than £150 million has been expended across both the IOPC and Operation Resolve investigations. This includes over £56 million on IOPC staff, which at one point numbered approximately 200 employees, at least £10 million on dedicated office accommodation in Warrington, and as much as £18,000 annually on stationery for the IOPC.
The early years of the investigation presented significant practical and technological hurdles. Teams navigated archives where original police notebooks, stored for 25 years, required cleaning of rat droppings before analysis. Evidence on outdated VHS tapes and floppy disks necessitated the use of resurrected 1980s computers, 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 waned over the past 13 years.
Following the conclusion of criminal trials without significant convictions and the acquittal of police commander David Duckenfield, many bereaved relatives have lost faith in the process. Several individuals stated they felt the IOPC investigation was futile, noting that all involved police officers had either retired or died, rendering any misconduct sanctions impossible. Ms. Hicks questioned the expenditure, remarking, “I hope it’s not going to be a waste of taxpayers’ money… Perhaps the money would have been better spent on the NHS, or somewhere else it’s desperately needed.”
Charlotte Hennessy, who was six when her father, James, was killed, explained that the protracted nature of the investigations, coupled with the initial cover-up, has profoundly impacted her adult life. “The process has been extremely lengthy and I have no doubt it will only leave us feeling frustrated,” she said, adding that there has been “no empathy for my own mental health, no compassion for how distressing the outcome may be.” Hennessy also expressed discomfort regarding the investigation’s cost: “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, although those who submitted complaints had already been informed of the outcomes. Many complaints were not upheld due to a cited lack of evidence, a difficult truth for those who felt ample evidence had been presented in the 2012 Hillsborough Independent Panel report and subsequent inquests. Charlotte Hennessy, whose complaint of police gross negligence after the 2016 inquests suggested her father might have survived with better medical care, was informed the IOPC found no case to answer. “I’m really frustrated,” she stated. “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, lodged two complaints alleging officers fabricated evidence and gave false statements. One 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,” Matthews commented. “We are really, really frustrated. Our mental health is suffering really badly because of this.”
Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, who served as culture secretary when scrutiny of Hillsborough intensified, hopes 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 told local radio. “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 passage of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, known as the Hillsborough Law, through Parliament. This legislation aims to ensure greater transparency and accountability for victims of major incidents and impose a legal duty on public bodies to be truthful and cooperative with investigations. The bill has the backing of Sir Keir Starmer, who Ms. Hennessy confirmed personally promised its implementation. Mr. Burnham has also reiterated his call for a permanent victims’ advocate body.
Many who once held hope now approach the IOPC’s findings with a sense of resignation. Families who celebrated the Independent Panel report and the 2016 inquest verdicts, believing they were close to the truth, continue to seek justice and accountability. A spokesperson for the IOPC acknowledged the shared frustration, 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.”
© Millenium TV
