Critics blast Hillsborough report as 'pointless'

A woman whose brother lost his life in the Hillsborough disaster has condemned a long-awaited review into police behavior, calling it a "waste of time".

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation concluded that 12 officers would have faced gross misconduct charges for serious failings on the day of the tragedy and for attempts to shift blame onto fans afterward.

Louise Brookes' brother, Andrew, who worked in car manufacturing at Longbridge, was one of the 97 Liverpool supporters who died in the 1989 stadium crush. Ms. Brookes, from Bromsgrove, told the BBC she fears justice will never be achieved since the 12 officers retired before any disciplinary action could take place.

The police watchdog spent over 13 years scrutinizing the actions of South Yorkshire Police and other forces in the aftermath of the disaster. Families of the victims expressed concern that full accountability may once again be denied.

"If Andrew had survived that day, he would have been furious at the dishonesty and injustice of blaming the victims for something they did not do," Ms. Brookes told BBC Radio WM regarding the report. "They call these officers old now, but they werent old when they were deceiving people and covering up. They have all lived normal lives, many advancing in their careers on the backs of our dead 97."

Former South Yorkshire Chief Constable Peter Wright and ex-Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield are among those who would have faced accountability for the deaths. Former Assistant Chief Constable Mervyn Jones and Detective Chief Superintendent Michael Foster of West Midlands Police would have faced scrutiny for their roles in the follow-up investigation, including alleged bias toward the police and failure to correct South Yorkshire Police's altered accounts.

Although law changes in 2017 allowed retired officers to face misconduct charges, these changes were not applied retroactively. All 12 had retired before investigations began in 2012.

A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "The deaths of 97 people following the Hillsborough stadium disaster was a tragedy, and our thoughts remain with the families and friends of the victims who live with the loss of their loved ones every day."

Author: Connor Blake