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Hillsborough disaster: those responsible could face charges, says May
Hillsborough disaster: those responsible could face charges, says May
(about 3 hours later)
Officials implicated in the unlawful killing of 96 Liverpool fans in the Hillsborough disaster could face prosecution for criminal negligence and perjury, Theresa May has said.
Theresa May insisted there would be no holding back in pursuing criminal charges against those responsible for the Hillsborough disaster, as MPs demanded a thorough investigation of the culture of collusion that allowed the truth to be covered up for decades.
The home secretary warned of potential criminal proceedings against police officers and other responsible groups over the 1989 tragedy while speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
In an emotional session in the House of Commons, MPs sat silently as May read out the determinations of the jury in the Hillsborough inquests in full – including that the police’s lack of planning and their decisions taken on the day contributed to the disaster, while the behaviour of the fans attending the match did not.
Reporting to MPs on the damning findings of the Hillsborough inquests, which gave their verdicts on Tuesday, May said the Crown Prosecution Service would decide later this year whether charges should be brought when two criminal investigations into the disaster were complete.
“It was this country’s worst disaster at a sporting event. For the families and survivors, the search to get to the truth of what happened on that day has been long and arduous,” May said.
Related: Hillsborough debate: S Yorks police leadership 'rotten to the core' – live
The shadow home secretary, Andy Burnham, paid tribute to the families and said those responsible must be held to account for a “27-year cover-up”. He criticised South Yorkshire police for failing to admit earlier that officers had ordered the opening of a gate at the Leppings Lane end of the stadium, allowing thousands of fans to pour in and eventually causing the fatal crush.
“Shamefully, the cover-up continued in this Warrington courtroom,” he said. “Millions of pounds of public money were spent retelling discredited lies. Lawyers for retired officers threw disgusting slurs; those for today’s force tried to establish that others were responsible for the opening of the gate.
“If the police had chosen to maintain its apology, this inquest would have been much shorter. But they didn’t and they put the families through hell once again.”
Speaking to a silent Commons, May read out the determinations of the jury in full – including, crucially, that the police’s lack of planning and the decisions taken on the day contributed to the disaster, while the behaviour of the fans attending the match did not.
“Clearly, the jury’s determination that those who died were unlawfully killed was of great public importance,” she said. “It overturns in the starkest way possible the verdict of accidental death of the first inquest.”
“Clearly, the jury’s determination that those who died were unlawfully killed was of great public importance,” she said. “It overturns in the starkest way possible the verdict of accidental death of the first inquest.”
She insisted that there would be “no holding back” in pursuing prosecutions and paid tribute to the families of the victims, who had fought long and hard to see the truth emerge.
Related: Hillsborough debate: S Yorks police leadership 'rotten to the core' – live
“They suffered the injustices of hearing the victims, their loved ones and fellow supporters, being blamed,” she said. “In their search for truth and justice, I have never failed to be struck by their extraordinary dignity and determination.”
The shadow home secretary, Andy Burnham, who has been a leading figure in the long-running campaign for the truth about Hillsborough to be revealed, responded with a powerful speech, greeted with applause by MPs, condemning the culture of South Yorkshire police.
Burnham, who has been a leading figure in the long-running campaign for the truth about Hillsborough to be revealed, demanded the resignation of the chief constable of South Yorkshire police and called for the culture of the force to be investigated over its failings on the day, and the subsequent cover-up.
Burnham said the finding of the inquests was “simple, clear, powerful and emphatic” and “those responsible must be held to account for 96 unlawful deaths and a 26-year cover-up”.
Drawing a link with the Orgreave clash during the miners’ strike, and the recent child grooming cases in Rotherham, Burnham called for “fundamental reform” of South Yorkshire police. “Orgreave, Hillsborough, Rotherham: how much evidence do we need?” he asked.
“But it begged the question,” he added. “How could something so obvious have taken so long? Three reasons. First, a police force which has consistently put protecting itself above protecting people harmed by Hillsborough. Second, collusion between that force and complicit print media. Third, a flawed judicial system that gives the upper hand to those in authority over and above ordinary people.”
Burnham said the findings of the jury had been “simple, clear, powerful and emphatic”, and that “those responsible must be held to account for 96 unlawful deaths and a 27-year cover-up”.
He demanded the resignation of the chief constable of South Yorkshire police, suggesting the leadership and culture of the force was “rotten to the core”.
He mooted the idea of inserting a “Hillsborough clause” into the forthcoming justice bill, which would prevent senior police officers from retiring before disciplinary action against them could be taken, a proposal that May said she was willing to discuss with Labour.
Drawing a link with the Orgreave clash during the miners’ strike, and the recent child grooming cases in Rotherham, Burnham called for “fundamental reform” of the force. “Orgreave, Hillsborough, Rotherham: how much evidence do we need?” he said.
Burnham also called for the government to press ahead with so-called “Leveson II”, the second part of the investigation into the relationship between the media and public figures.
The home secretary said the Crown Prosecution Service would decide later this year whether charges should be brought, once two criminal investigations into the 1989 football stadium disaster, in which 96 people died, were complete.
The South Yorkshire chief constable at the time of the disaster, Peter Wright, died in 2011, but the force has faced criticism for its conduct during the inquests.
“It was this country’s worst disaster at a sporting event. For the families and survivors the search to get to the truth of what happened on that day has been long and arduous,” May said.
The fate of the current chief constable lies in the hands of his police and crime commissioner, Dr Alan Billings. A spokesperson for Billings declined to comment on whether he supported the force’s controversial actions at the the inquests.
She said potential charges could include gross negligence, manslaughter, misconduct in public office, perverting the course of justice and perjury, as well as offences under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
She also paid tribute to the families of the victims, who have fought long and hard to see the truth emerge.
Related: Liverpool: share your reaction to the Hillsborough verdict
Related: Liverpool: share your reaction to the Hillsborough verdict
South Yorkshire police issued a new statement apologising for the perception that their actions at the inquest were contrary to the force’s apology in 2012.
“They suffered the injustices of hearing the victims, their loved ones and fellow supporters, being blamed,” she said. “In their search for truth and justice I have never failed to be struck by their extraordinary dignity and determination.”
“We have been asked about our conduct at the inquests. The coroner himself gave a clear ruling that specifically addresses the relationship between apologies and evidence at the inquests. He ruled that to admit the previous 2012 apology by the chief constable into proceedings would be wrong and highly prejudicial,” it said.
As well as demanding an investigation of South Yorkshire police, Burnham said more should be done to prevent senior officers escaping the blame for their failings by retiring.
“He also ruled that the conduct of SYP during the inquests was not inconsistent with this earlier apology. The force has taken careful note of the coroner’s comments during the inquests and has sought to be open and transparent at all stages.
He mooted the idea of inserting a “Hillsborough clause” into the forthcoming justice bill, which would prevent senior police officers from retiring before disciplinary action against them could be taken – a proposal May said she was willing to discuss with Labour.
“It is important to remember that inquests are not about guilt, liability or blame, but about establishing the facts. The intention throughout these proceedings has been to assist the jury [to] understand the facts. We have never sought, at any stage, to defend the failures of SYP or its officers. Nevertheless, these failures had to be put into the context of other contributory factors. In other words, where do the failings of SYP stand in the overall picture?
He also called for the government to press ahead with so-called “Leveson II”, the second part of the investigation into the relationship between the media and public figures, saying: “No one in the police or media has ever been held to account for the incalculable harm they caused in smearing a whole city in its moment of greatest grief.”
“We are sorry if our approach has been perceived as at odds with our earlier apology, this was certainly not our intention.”
MPs on both sides of the House expressed their anger at the struggle the Hillsborough families have faced for justice; and paid tribute both to Burnham and May.
Asked by Conservative MP Chris Heaton-Harris what she thought of the role of the South Yorkshire police, May said they must “recognise the truth”.
