South Yorkshire Police to correct legal record around Hillsborough daughters' deaths

Jenni and her former husband Trevor Hicks have long called for SYP to correct the official court records, which wrongly state their daughters lost consciousness within 30 seconds and died a short time later, when in fact it appears they suffered much longer.

The assumption – dubbed “the 30-second rule” – was used in post-disaster cases and presumed victims lost consciousness almost immediately, including in a 1990s test case brought by the Hicks family.

Their claim for damages against SYP was dismissed at multiple levels, culminating in a rejection by the House of Lords, when it was the highest court in the land.

Today, Chief Constable Lauren Poultney met Jenni and Trevor Hicks for the first time, and the family’s lawyers confirmed that she had instructed the force’s legal team to proceed with a Statement in Open Court (SIOC).

This followed a campaign by The Yorkshire Post and marked a change in opinion of SYP, which previously said it did not believe it would correct the House of Lords legal case with a SIOC.

It was also the first time that a serving SYP chief constable had met the Hicks family directly to discuss the disputed legal record, despite repeated requests by their lawyers.

Following the meeting, Ms Hicks, who is originally from Yorkshire but now lives in Liverpool, said: “This is the first time we have sat down with a chief constable and been told directly that steps will be taken to correct the record about our daughters.

“We welcome what we have been told today, and we are pleased that South Yorkshire Police appears to recognise that this needs to be put right.

“But after everything families have been through over the past 36 years, we will wait to see it happen in open court before celebrating.”

Mr Hicks, of Settle, North Yorkshire, added: “Today felt like a hugely important step forward.

“We have waited a very long time to hear these words from the leadership of South Yorkshire Police. What matters now is that the promise made today is followed through.”

Ms Poultney told the parents that the two legal teams were now “working towards a shared goal”.

She said: “I'm grateful to both Jenni and Trevor Hicks for agreeing to meet with me. I'm mindful that I represent an organisation which has caused them so much pain over the years.

“I understand how important it is to correct the record of the circumstances of the deaths of Vicki and Sarah and I have instructed the force's legal team to support the Hicks' legal team in their application for a statement in open court.”

She also said she would support their campaign for a Hicks Rule, which would make it easier to correct the legal record.

The force had been under fire from former prime minister Theresa May, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, as well as this paper, for refusing to submit a SIOC.

There appeared to be some confusion as the Lords’ judicial functions have now been passed to the Supreme Court.

However, The Yorkshire Post understands that the Supreme Court justices would consider an application for a SIOC, if one was made.

South Yorkshire Police have been contacted for comment.