Hillsborough Disaster: UK Government Apologizes for Delay in Responding to Report

The British government has apologized to the families of the 97 Liverpool soccer fans who died in the Hillsborough disaster for its delay in responding to a 2017 report aimed at preventing cover-ups of tragedies. The government is introducing a charter and other measures to prevent cover-ups of missteps by police or other public authorities.

London, December 6, 2023 - The British government has formally apologized to the families of the 97 Liverpool soccer fans who tragically lost their lives in the Hillsborough stadium crush 34 years ago. The apology comes in response to a 2017 report that highlighted the "burning injustice" faced by the families and aimed to ensure that such an official cover-up would not be repeated in future tragedies.

Government Introduces Hillsborough Charter

Six years after the report's release, the government has announced the introduction of a Hillsborough Charter, among other measures, to prevent cover-ups of missteps by police or other public authorities. However, the government has declined to support calls from campaigners to legally require public bodies, including the police, to be truthful and proactively cooperate with official investigations and inquiries into disasters.

Hillsborough Disaster: A Tragic Event

The Hillsborough disaster occurred on April 15, 1989, when an overcrowded standing-room section behind a goal at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield resulted in the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans. The incident led to an original inquest in 1991, which recorded verdicts of accidental death, but these verdicts were overturned in 2012 after a far-reaching inquiry exposed wrongdoing and mistakes by the police. In 2016, a jury found that the victims were "unlawfully killed."

Campaign for Truth and Accountability

In the aftermath of the disaster, there were attempts to blame Liverpool fans and defend the policing operation. However, the tireless campaign of the bereaved families eventually led to a shift in the narrative, exposing the false claims and highlighting the need for accountability.

Hillsborough Charter vs. Hillsborough Law

While campaigners had proposed a "Hillsborough Law" that would incorporate a "duty of candour" on public authorities and officials, the government has opted for a "Hillsborough Charter" instead. This charter encourages public bodies to pledge to be truthful about public tragedies, regardless of the impact on their reputation. The government maintains that it is not aware of any gaps in legislation that would further promote a culture of candour among public bodies.

Bereaved Families Continue to Seek Justice

Despite the government's response, bereaved families have vowed to continue their campaign for a law that includes a "duty of candour" on officials as a legacy to the victims of the disaster. They believe that such a law is necessary to ensure that similar tragedies are prevented in the future.

Political Support for a Duty of Candour

Keir Starmer, the leader of the main opposition Labour Party, has indicated his support for enacting a law that would impose a duty of candour on officials if he becomes prime minister. This stance aligns with the demands of the bereaved families and suggests potential future developments in this regard.

Government's Apology and Acknowledgment

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk issued an apology on behalf of the government for the way the families were treated over the decades and for the delay in responding to the 2017 report. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also expressed his profound sorrow for the suffering endured by the Hillsborough families and hoped to meet with them in the new year.

The British government's apology and the introduction of the Hillsborough Charter mark a significant step in addressing the Hillsborough disaster and its aftermath. While the bereaved families continue to seek further justice and accountability, the government's response acknowledges the need for transparency and candour in public authorities to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.