Police in the UK have officially admitted their omissions in the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster. After 34 years, she apologized.
“Police have failed the families of the Hillsborough disaster for many years. We are deeply sorry that so many things went wrong.”said Andy Marsh, head of the professional body of police in England and Wales: “Police failure was the main cause of the tragedy and has continued to strain the lives of loved ones ever since.”
For years, fans were wrongly blamed
The disaster led to the death of 97 people, in 2021 the 97th victim died as a result. 766 people were injured. On April 15, 1989, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest played against each other in the FA Cup semifinals in Sheffield. The overcrowding of a grandstand caused many people to be pushed against the fences. For years, authorities blamed Liverpool fans.
In 2016, a commission of inquiry found that wrong decisions by the police were the cause. The opening of a gate by the police led to the overcrowding, and the officials also left the escape routes to the field closed.
Local police in South Yorkshire, the 2016 British Government, the FA and the tabloid The Sun all apologized at the time. The newspaper had claimed Liverpool fans had obstructed rescue work and robbed victims.
Police announce code of conduct
Police Representative Marsh said that all police forces in England and Wales will now have to sign a charter obliging them to admit fault. So they can “Don’t try to defend the inexcusable”.
Part of the code is also the obligation to retain information. Various documents were lost or destroyed in connection with the Hillsborough disaster.