Hillsborough: Long-awaited report into Britain’s worst-ever sporting disaster to be published today

The police watchdog will today publish its report into the actions of officers during and after the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.

The Independent Office for Police Misconduct (IOPC) has been investigating South Yorkshire Police since 2012.

It is the largest independent investigation into alleged police misconduct and criminality ever carried out in England and Wales.

Hillsborough remains to this day the worst disaster in British sporting history.

How did we get here?

A crush on the terraces during the FA Cup semi-final at the stadium in Sheffield resulted in the death of 97 Liverpool fans – men, women, and children aged from 10 to 67.

Even as fans lay dying, police were claiming that Liverpool supporters, arriving in large numbers late, drunk and without tickets, caused the disaster. But after decades of campaigning, that narrative was debunked.

In April 2016, new inquests – held after the original verdicts of accidental death were quashed in 2012 – determined that those who died had been unlawfully killed.

The IOPC told victims’ families in March that no officers would face misconduct proceedings because legislation in place at the time did not require police to have a duty of candour.

Dozens of allegations of misconduct against officers had been upheld, it said, but none would face disciplinary proceedings because they had all left the police service.

What has this probe looked at?

The IOPC investigation focused on amendments made in accounts of officers who were present at Hillsborough and allegations that misleading information was passed by the police to the media, MPs, parliament, and the inquiries set up immediately after the disaster.

It has also been looking into the role of West Midlands Police, which led the investigation into the disaster, and allegations that family members and campaigners were subject to surveillance by the police.

The IOPC has already confirmed that its investigation “aligned” with the findings of the Hillsborough Independent Panel investigation and the 2016 inquests.

It said: “We found no evidence to support police accounts to the media, the Taylor Inquiry and both sets of inquests, which suggested that the behaviour of supporters caused or in any way contributed to the disaster.”

Read more from Sky News:
PM emotional talking about Hillsborough
Long-awaited Hillsborough Law introduced
Officer cleared of gross negligence manslaughter

In September, the government introduced the so-called Hillsborough Law to the House of Commons.

The legislation will include a duty of candour, forcing public officials to act with honesty and integrity at all times or face criminal sanctions.