Pressure is mounting for criminal charges to be brought against police officers involved in the Hillsborough disaster.
A damning report by the Hillsborough Independent Panel laid bare the full extent of police failings that led to the tragedy and their subsequent attempts to shift the blame on to its 96 victims.
The report found that 164 police statements were altered, 116 of them to remove or alter “unfavourable” comments about the policing of the match and the unfolding disaster.
David Crompton, who was appointed chief constable of South Yorkshire Police in April, said the issue of criminal responsibility for the changing of statements was the same as in any other situation.
“If someone has falsified something and it breaches the criminal law then, fair enough, that applies to anybody, whether it’s in relation to Hillsborough or anything else.
“They should face prosecution, let’s be clear about it,” he said.
Liverpool-born shadow health secretary Andy Burnham, who was instrumental in the creation of the panel, said the role of serving police officers implicated in the report must be investigated further.
“There now has to be a process of investigation into what they did, what they knew, what they ordered, and where accountability lies,” he said.
Sir Norman Bettison, chief constable of West Yorkshire Police who was the most senior serving officer involved in the discredited South Yorkshire Police investigation after the Hillsborough disaster, said he welcomed the disclosure of all the facts “because I have absolutely nothing to hide”.
“I never altered a statement nor asked for one to be altered,” he said in a statement.
MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, has written to Home Secretary Theresa May, Sir Norman and Mr Crompton about the report.
He said: “It is of the upmost importance that we know when and how the investigations into these shocking police issues will commence and who will be doing the investigating.”
The families of the Liverpool fans killed 23 years ago have started poring over the contents of the report and pledged to carry on their fight by pursuing criminal prosecutions against those who they said should “hang their heads in shame”.
Relatives of the victims, largely represented by the Hillsborough Families Support Group, will meet in the coming days to discuss how they take matters further.
One of their first steps will be to start the process of overturning the inquest verdicts of accidental death, which is already being considered by the Attorney General, Dominic Grieve.
An application to the High Court for a fresh inquest could take weeks or months.
He is likely to ask for further representations – mainly from the families involved – and also speak to legal experts.
Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Families Support Group, said the verdicts of accidental death were a “disgrace”.
“They were a mockery and the system should be ashamed of itself. The fight will go on,” she said.
Support group president, Trevor Hicks, who lost two daughters at Hillsborough, also said they would now press for criminal action against those involved in the disaster.
He said the report disclosed shocking “depths of depravity” in the way the police tried to blame the fans after the disaster.
The Football Association commended the Hillsborough Independent Panel for its “exhaustive and professional work” and highlighted the improvement to safety at grounds since the disaster.
“The FA reiterates its deep and ongoing sadness at the dreadful events that unfolded on 15 April 1989,” a statement said.
“The organisation’s thoughts at this time remains with the families of all those who lost their lives in such terrible circumstances, as well as everyone connected with the city of Liverpool.
“The FA and English football has changed immeasurably, and has learnt many lessons in the last 23 years. Through advancements in safety and investment in facilities English football is now a much safer, more welcoming environment for supporters.”
In light of the report, The Sun newspaper has printed a front page apology for its role in the Hillsborough tragedy, under the headline ‘The Real Truth’, saying it was “deeply ashamed and profoundly sorry”.
Just days after the disaster, it published a notorious front page headline, ‘The Truth’, reporting the police’s version of events.
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