Family fury over IOPC Hillsborough findings

A 12-year investigation into the Hillsborough disaster by the police watchdog has concluded that no senior South Yorkshire police officers were guilty of misconduct for falsely blaming misbehaviour by Liverpool supporters.

- David Conn Peter Walker

That police case was wholly rejected in 2016 by the jury at the second inquest, who determined that no behaviour by Liverpool supporters had contributed to the disaster, which took place on 15 April 1989 at the FA.

Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium.

The jury found the 97 people who had died due to a crush on the Leppings Lane terraces were unlawfully killed, as a result of gross negligence manslaughter by the officer in command, Ch Supt David Duckenfield. Bereaved families and survivors have fought a long campaign for truth and accountability, and have always said South Yorkshire police mounted a false case to minimise their culpability and blame the victims.

The conclusion of the investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which started in 2012, has coincided with delays to the government's promised "Hillsborough law", which would impose a duty of candour on police and public officials, for which families have also long campaigned.