Police leaders apologise for Hillsborough tragedy for the first time

34 years on from the disaster, police leaders have apologised

Police leaders have apologised to the families involved in the Hillsborough tragedy for the first time. Almost 34 years on, The National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing have accepted that police failures were the main cause of the disaster, which saw 97 people sadly lose their lives. They apologised on behalf of all 43 police forces in England and Wales as part of a response to a report published by the former Bishop of Liverpool James Jones in November 2017. Five years on, the apology has now been made public after the culmination of legal proceedings. Chief Constable Andy Marsh, College of Policing CEO, said: "Policing has profoundly failed those bereaved by the Hillsborough disaster over many years and we are sorry that the service got it so wrong.

"Police failures were the main cause of the tragedy and have continued to blight the lives of family members ever since.

“When leadership was most needed, the bereaved were often treated insensitively and the response lacked coordination and oversight.

“Today’s report explains long-term, and more recent, developments in how the police responds to mass fatality incidents.

"Hillsborough is a touchstone for long-lasting change in policing and there is a commitment from the leadership in policing to create a modern, dynamic police service which acts without fear or favour, and with integrity and empathy."

Meanwhile, National Police Chiefs’ Council Chair, Martin Hewitt, said: "As police officers, we come to work to keep the public safe and as a service, we failed to do this at Hillsborough.

"I am deeply sorry for the tragic loss of life, and for the pain and suffering that the families of the 97 victims experienced on that day and in the many years that have followed.

"Collectively, the changes made since the Hillsborough disaster and in response to Rt Reverend James Jones’s report aim to ensure the terrible police failures made on the day and in the aftermath can never happen again.

"Police chiefs today are committed to responding to major incidents with openness and with compassion for the families involved.

"They committed to putting the interests of victims and families above any other interest and acting with candour at every turn."

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• Martin Tyler criticised for calling Hillsborough a ‘hooligan related issue’