The legacy of Hillsborough 97 must ensure justice is served in law

The Mayor of Liverpool City Region emphasized that the "legacy of the 97" must now be realized through the Hillsborough Law, following a report confirming that no individuals will face accountability for the 1989 disaster.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) determined that 12 retired officers would have faced gross misconduct proceedings if current standards had applied at the time of the FA Cup semi-final crush. Mayor Steve Rotheram stated that "97 innocent fans were unlawfully killed," yet no one has been held responsible within the justice system.

Rotheram highlighted that the new legislation, advancing through Parliament, will compel public officials to provide truthful testimony during investigations into major disasters, helping prevent other families from experiencing the prolonged anguish endured by the Hillsborough victims' relatives.

The IOPC report cited "fundamental failures" and deliberate attempts to shift blame onto fans. Former South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Peter Wright and ex-Ch Supt David Duckenfield were among those who would have faced misconduct proceedings under todays laws. Additionally, a thirteenth officer was also identified as potentially accountable.

However, since all implicated officers had retired before the IOPC began its investigation in 2012, current law prevents any disciplinary action. Rotheram remarked that the findings offer "no closure for the families who've fought with dignity, strength, and courage."

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, known as the Hillsborough Law, will require public institutions to cooperate fully with major disaster inquiries or face criminal penalties, while also providing legal support to those affected by state-related incidents.

The IOPC investigation ran alongside Operation Resolve, a criminal probe examining the events of the day itself. Both inquiries were launched in 2012 following revelations of a systematic cover-up in which police leaders spread false narratives blaming Liverpool supporters and concealed their own failings.

In response to the report, Rotheram said it "couldand shouldhave been a watershed moment for the 97 and their families," but he described it as "another missed opportunity." He stressed that, after 13 years of investigation, the report only confirmed what families have long known: their loved ones were catastrophically failed and unjustly vilified.

Rotheram added: "The truth remains: 97 innocent people were unlawfully killed, yet no individual or institution has been held accountable." He criticized the absence of collective responsibility for the disaster, noting that officers who neglected their duties and blamed fans have never faced consequences. He concluded that justice is still "agonizingly out of reach."

He asserted that the "legacy of the 97 must now be justice in law," and emphasized that the Hillsborough Law would prevent other families from enduring similar prolonged ordeals.

Bereaved families also responded to the report at a press conference. Charlotte Hennessy, whose father died in the tragedy, stated that while justice through imprisonment is impossible, the report validated survivors' accounts. She remarked: "There is no way to cover up that they failed their duties and then sought to blame the victims."

Current South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Lauren Poultney expressed profound sorrow for the pain caused by past failures, acknowledging that no words could undo the harm inflicted over the years.

Nicola Brook, a solicitor representing several families, described it as a "bitter injustice" that no one would be held accountable. She said the report revealed a system allowing officers to retire without scrutiny or consequences, falling short of the standards expected by the public.

Author: Sophia Brooks