An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has revealed that a relative of a Hillsborough victim was subjected to surveillance by the police. The probe looked into 27 complaints from individuals connected to the 1989 tragedy, with one complaint being upheld. The report detailed that a family member was visibly followed by police for nearly a week, leading to the validation of this specific complaint.
The Hillsborough disaster occurred during a FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on April 15, 1989. South Yorkshire Police initially blamed Liverpool fans for the tragedy, alleging they were late, drunk, and without tickets, but these claims have since been debunked.
The IOPC investigation highlighted that 12 police officers could have faced gross misconduct charges for their failures on the day of the disaster and subsequent attempts to shift blame to the fans. However, due to the officers no longer being in service, no disciplinary actions will be taken.
Additionally, the report mentioned an incident involving West Midlands Police officers behaving in an intimidating manner towards a family member during an investigation. The IOPC criticized the biased approach of South Yorkshire Police in handling the Hillsborough disaster investigation.
Despite efforts to uncover evidence of telephone surveillance, no records were found, leaving uncertainty about the existence of such surveillance or potential destruction of records. The report directed affected families to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal for further inquiries into governmental records on phone tapping.
The Police Federation of England and Wales issued an apology following criticism of its response to the Hillsborough report, acknowledging the distress caused by their initial statement. Liverpool West Derby Ian Byrne and the Police Federation CEO expressed regret for the insensitive remarks and emphasized the need for respect and sensitivity towards the victims, survivors, and bereaved families of the Hillsborough tragedy.