Prosecutors get files on 23 Hillsborough disaster suspects

The dossiers were passed to the Crown Prosecution Service by the two inquiries into the 1989 disaster at Sheffield’s Hillsborough Stadium, at which 96 men, women and children died.

Q&A: What will happen to the 23 Hillsborough disaster suspects?

It was reported last year that South Yorkshire Police, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield Council, the Yorkshire Ambulance Service and the Football Association were all under criminal investigation as part of the inquiries set up following the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report in 2012.

The watchdog Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and Operation Resolve are investigating individuals and organisations for potential offences including gross negligence manslaughter, misconduct in a public office, perverting the course of justice and breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Safety at Sports Ground Act.

New inquests which concluded last year found the victims were unlawfully killed and fans were not to blame.

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A statement released on behalf of the two investigations said 15 of the suspects related to the probe into the causes of the disaster, while eight related to the IPCC inquiry into the alleged police cover-up.

The Operation Resolve investigation, looking at the preparation for the match and events of the day, considered offences including gross negligence manslaughter, perverting the course of justice, misconduct in public office and offences under the Safety of Sports Ground Act 1975 and Health and Safety at Work legislation.

The IPCC probe examined both South Yorkshire Police and West Midlands Police - the force which investigated the disaster in 1989.

Investigators for the watchdog considered offences including perverting the course of justice, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and misconduct in public office.

More than 170 allegations of police misconduct continue to be investigated by both teams.

Head of CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division Sue Hemming said: “Having received files from both Hillsborough investigations, we will now assess these in order to determine whether we have sufficient material on which to make charging decisions. Charging decisions will be based on the tests set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors.”

Assistant Commissioner Robert Beckley, officer in overall command of Operation Resolve, said: “Our task has been to investigate whether any individual or organisation is criminally culpable for their role either in the planning and preparation for the match or on the day of the game itself.

“The extensive file we have submitted, which contains over 35 million words, reflects four years of intense work from my teams.”

IPCC deputy chair Rachel Cerfontyne said: “These criminal investigations into the circumstances surrounding the Hillsborough disaster are the largest investigations into alleged police wrongdoing ever undertaken in England and Wales.

“Conducting an inquiry of this scale and complexity, while supporting the longest running inquests in British legal history, has been a significant undertaking for the IPCC. Our criminal investigation has now substantially concluded.”

Lawyer Elkan Abrahamson, director of Broudie Jackson Canter, which represents 20 of the Hillsborough families, said: “Our clients are relieved that files have finally gone to the CPS to consider criminal proceedings against 23 individuals and organisations.

“Given that the CPS have been working in tandem with the police and the IPCC for many years we believe decisions should now be taken without further delay.

“We will continue to scrutinise the process and any decisions.”