The head of a police organization has issued an apology following the release of a report on the Hillsborough disaster. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) determined that 12 former officers would have faced charges of gross misconduct if they were still in service. This tragic event resulted in the loss of 97 Liverpool fans during a match against Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday’s stadium on April 15, 1989.
After the report’s publication, the South Yorkshire Police Federation criticized it as “opinion presented as fact.” The CEO of the Police Federation, Mukund Krishna, acknowledged that their initial statement, which has since been deleted, was inaccurate and recognized the immense suffering experienced by Liverpool and its community.
In response to criticism from Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne, Mr. Krishna expressed regret for the insensitive nature of the statement, emphasizing that it failed to show the necessary care and respect for the victims and their families affected by the Hillsborough tragedy. The deleted post had highlighted concerns about due process for former officers but was deemed inappropriate in its delivery.
In 2021, both the South Yorkshire and West Midlands police forces admitted to significant mistakes and agreed to compensate over 600 individuals affected by the disaster cover-up. Mr. Krishna has offered to personally meet with the families impacted by the Hillsborough disaster to offer his apologies and discuss the implications of the report on policing. Mr. Byrne, who was present at the 1989 match, accepted the apology and appreciated the gesture of reaching out to the families, stating that it was the least they deserved.