Hillsborough disaster investigators ‘will soon identify suspects’

The Independent Police Complaints Commission, which is looking into the conduct of police if the aftermath of the 1989 tragedy, says 242 officers’ accounts of what happened on the day are thought to have been amended.

In the watchdog’s monthly update on its inquiry into the events at Sheffield Wednesday’s home ground, which led to the death of 96 Liverpool fans, deputy chair Rachel Cerfontyne said officials had nearly finished interviewing officers involved.

She said: “This means we are beginning to focus on those key people who are of significant interest to us and we expect to interview those before the start of the inquests.

“That will be a significant step as we expect to be identifying and interviewing people as suspects.”

She added that the interviews with officers had helped identify “key persons of interest”, meaning those who can provide key information and may be classified as a suspect or just a witness.

Ms Cerfontyne said she expected these people to be interviewed by the time the inquests into the deaths of the 96 fans are re-opened at the end of March.

She added: “I fully appreciate that the pace of the investigations is of concern to a number of people.

“No-one is getting younger and after waiting for almost 25 years it is understandable that people want action now.”

Of the 242 officers whose testimony was amended, 22 are dead, 13 retired officers have declined to be interviewed, 12 have been deemed as unfit for interview and two have not yet responded to attempts to contact them.

Two inquiries are under way into the disaster. Operation Resolve, led by former Durham Chief Constable Jon Stoddart, is investigating whether fans were unlawfully killed, and the IPCC is looking into the conduct of police in the aftermath of the disaster.

The IPCC also revealed that the Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, will face a full investigation over public statements he made about whether he gave evidence to the earlier Taylor Inquiry into the disaster.

A complaint about Hogan-Howe was made by Paul Spearritt, whose older brother, Adam, was 14 when he was killed in the crush in the Leppings Lane “pens”.

The country’s most senior police officer was formerly a South Yorkshire Police inspector and was on duty at Sheffield Boys’ Club where relatives waited for news of loved ones on the day of the tragedy.

An initial complaint, which follows reports that Adam’s name was wrongly read out by an unidentified officer from a list of people believed to be alive, is being dealt with as part of Operation Resolve.

But a second complaint about accounts that Sir Bernard gave of his contact with Lord Justice Taylor’s initial inquiry into events on the day will now be looked at separately by the IPCC.

The new inquest into the deaths is due to start in Warrington on 31 March. The original inquest’s verdict of accidental death was quashed in December 2012 after more than 20 years of campaigning by the families.

In her monthly update released today, Ms Cerfontyne said: “In examining the actions of the police on 15 April 1989 prior to the disaster Operation Resolve has identified officers who were on duty in Leppings Lane, on the Leppings Lane terraces, at the West Stand perimeter fence, assisting with treating any of the deceased, working in the mortuary or police control box or involved in the operational planning for the fixture.

“More than 450 interviews have been completed so far. Operation Resolve expects to interview some of the key police decision makers before the inquests begin at the end of March.

“A team is also examining events in the temporary mortuary and other premises used in dealing with the dead, injured and families and friends, such as the Boys’ Club, Medico Legal Centre and hospitals. To date 194 officers have been indentified as being involved in these areas.”