Police promise to admit mistakes and not ‘defend the indefensible’ after Hillsborough report recommendations
Police chiefs have promised to acknowledge mistakes and not “defend the indefensible” as they set out long-awaited reforms in the wake of a report into the Hillsborough disaster.
Among the changes are a Charter For Families Bereaved Through Public Tragedy, which commits police leaders to acknowledge any mistakes and ensure “care, compassion, openness, transparency and accountability”.
All forces in England and Wales have signed up to the pledge.
The police response on the day of the 1989 stadium crush – and after it – has long been an open wound for families of the 97 dead and those who survived.
A 2016 inquest jury ruled the fans were unlawfully killed amid a number of police errors.
“Police failures were the main cause of the tragedy and have continued to blight the lives of family members ever since,” said Chief Constable Andy Marsh, head of the College of Policing.
“Descriptions of how the bereaved were treated by police officers in the immediate aftermath of the disaster make harrowing reading,” adds the introduction to today’s report.
“When compassion and leadership were most needed, the bereaved were often treated insensitively and the response lacked coordination and oversight.”
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Response and apology have taken ‘way too long’
The reforms are in reply to the former bishop of Liverpool, James Jones, who made formal recommendations for ensuring the suffering of Hillsborough families was not repeated.
They were published five years ago, but the national police response could not be made public until legal proceedings and other matters were over.
Today’s report says Hillsborough must be “the touchstone for more ethical police leadership” – and as such, candour will become a key theme of the police’s updated code of ethics.
A supporting code of practice – which senior police must follow – will also set out “a responsibility to ensure openness and candour within their force”.
Ninety-seven fans died in the disaster at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough ground
‘Deeply sorry’
Other reforms include new national guidance for the family liaison officers – the point of contact with relatives when somebody is involved in a tragedy such as Hillsborough.
Findings from the 2017 report, as well as tragedies like Grenfell Tower, have been fed into the latest best practice.
A new code of practice on police information and records management is also being implemented after records relating to Hillsborough were lost or destroyed.
Senior police repeated their apologies for the disaster as they published their response on Tuesday.
Read more:
Police to pay compensation over Hillsborough cover-up
Statements altered to ‘mask police failings’, court hears
Martin Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), said he was “deeply sorry for the tragic loss of life, and for the pain and suffering that the families of the 97 victims experienced on that day and in the many years that have followed”.
He said they were now committed to responding to major incidents with “openness and with compassion for the families” above any other interest.
“Collectively, the changes made since the Hillsborough disaster and in response to Rt Reverend James Jones’s report aim to ensure the terrible police failures made on the day and in the aftermath can never happen again.”
96 of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster
‘Promises must become law’
The former bishop said he welcomed the police response and its acknowledgment that the treatment of families was “harrowing”.
He also welcomed the NPCC’s new “duty of candour” and its view that bereaved families should have as much legal representation as public bodies after a tragedy.
He said the government must now make these two principles legally binding as “Hillsborough Law”.
The government has yet to formally respond to the 2017 report – something a survivors’ group says is stopping families from being able to move on.
Chairman of the Hillsborough Survivors’ Support Alliance, Peter Scarfe, also called the five-year wait for a police response “way too long”.
He said the police reforms should be put into law to make a real difference.
“It’s not quite Hillsborough Law – I would expect Hillsborough Law to be passed,” he said.
“It’s easy saying we’ve learned from it, we’re going to correct our mistakes, we’ll make sure accountability is there, we can’t cover things up – but without a law they can.”
The prime minister’s official spokesman said part of the delay in responding to James Jones’s report had been to avoid the risk of prejudicing criminal cases.
“The government has been working closely with the relevant departments and organisations to carefully consider and address the points directed at government,” the spokesman said.
“That’s alongside the work with the police, because there are elements that span both government and policing.”
He said there was no specific date for a response, as “it’s important to ensure we do this properly”.
Counter-terrorism police are investigating after an incident involving a crossbow and a firearm left two women injured in Leeds.
Police were called to Otley Road at 2.47pm on Saturday to reports of a “serious incident involving a man seen with weapons”, West Yorkshire Police said.
Officers arrived at the scene to find two women injured – and a 38-year-old man with a self-inflicted injury. All three were taken to hospital, with the man held under arrest, but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
“Two weapons have been recovered from the scene, which were a crossbow and a firearm,” Counter Terrorism Policing North East said in a statement.
The incident happened on the ‘Otley Run’ pub crawl, with one venue saying it was closed for the evening due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
Officers guard one of the crime scenes
Officers inside the cordon in Leeds
Counter Terrorism Policing’s statement added: “Due to the circumstances surrounding the incident, Counter Terrorism Policing North East have taken responsibility for leading the investigation with the support of West Yorkshire Police.
“Extensive enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances and explore any potential motivation.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described it as a “serious violent incident” and said she was being kept updated by police.
“Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response,” she said. “My thoughts are with the victims and all those affected by this attack.”
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Wrexham AFC have been promoted for the third season in a row.
The North Wales-based side has gone from the National League to the Championship in just three seasons, under its Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Wrexham were second in the table and had a run of eight games unbeaten ahead of their match against Charlton Athletic on Saturday, which they won 3-0.
Wrexham’s James McClean lifts the League One trophy. Pic: PA
Wrexham’s Dan Scarr celebrates with the fans on the pitch after Wrexham won promotion to the Championship. Pic: PA
It is the first time any club has been promoted for three consecutive seasons within the top five tiers of English football.
The third oldest association football club in the world, Wrexham AFC was bought by Reynolds and McElhenney in 2020, and has since been the subject of a Disney+ documentary, Welcome To Wrexham.
Reynolds, wearing a Wrexham sweatshirt, and McElhenney were pictured celebrating each goal, and after the game, as the fans came onto the pitch at the SToK Cae Ras (Racecourse Ground) to celebrate the victory with the players.
Wrexham co-owners Rob McElhenney (L) and Ryan Reynolds and Ryan’s wife Blake Lively, before the match. Pic: PA
Both stars came onto the pitch after the supporters returned to the stands.
Speaking to Sky Sports, McElhenney praised those behind the scenes, referring to “so many that don’t get the credit they deserve, people who aren’t talked about”.
Reynolds said bringing success back to the club “seemed like an impossible dream” when they arrived in North Wales in 2020.
Wrexham’s Sam Smith celebrates in front of the fans after Wrexham won promotion to the Championship. Pic: PA
He put the three promotions down to “the coaching staff, the greatest dressing room” and an “all for one, one for all” attitude throughout the club, adding he was “speechless with their commitment and their emotion”.
As for the mouth-watering prospect of another promotion to the promised land of the Premier League, the pair agreed it was “for tomorrow”, before ending the interview with a joint mic-drop.
Veteran striker Steven Fletcher said, “as soon as I came to this club, I knew it was something special. We want to go again. We’ll reset in the summer, take a break and go again”.
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