Hillsborough families 'let down' by Midlands police

TOP COPS WOULD HAVE FACED GROSS MISCONDUCT CASES FOR THEIR FAILURES

- 

Mervyn Jones, former assistant chief constable of West Midlands Police

A NEW report into the Hillsborough disaster in which 97 Liverpool football fans were unlawfully killed has heavily criticised West Midlands Police.

The force carried out an investigation into the disaster which was found to be "wholly unsatisfactory and inexplicably narrow", with evidence found that the actions of two senior officers were biased in favour of South Yorkshire Police (SYP).

The major new investigation from the police watchdog is suggesting for the first time that the two officers potentially helped SYP officers to undermine the battle for truth and justice.

The report includes findings from years of investigations by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and Operation Resolve the criminal investigation into the disaster at Hillsborough Stadium on April 15, 1989.

It has concluded SYP fundamentally failed in its planning for the FA Cup semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in Sheffield and in how it dealt with traumatised supporters and families who were desperately searching for their loved ones before officers attempted to deflect blame for the disaster onto Liverpool supporters.

For the first time, the investigation examined the actions of West Midlands Police (WMP), which was tasked with investigating the disaster and supporting the subsequent Taylor Inquiry and report which followed.