The government’s response to recommendations for reform made in an official report six years ago, regarding the experiences of relatives of the 97 people killed at Hillsborough in 1989, is expected to be revealed today. The report, which was produced by James Jones, the former bishop of Liverpool, and was commissioned by then-home secretary Theresa May, followed a new inquest which established that those who died at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest had been unlawfully killed.
The verdict was that the deaths in a crush on the Leppings Lane terrace had been caused by the gross negligence manslaughter of the South Yorkshire police officer in command of the match, Ch Supt David Duckenfield. The report contained 25 “points of learning” designed to prevent cover-ups by public authorities and police and increase proper communication with bereaved people. Jones hoped that the lessons could be utilised to prevent repeating the suffering and pain experienced by families affected by Hillsborough.
Families affected by Hillsborough had called for a “Hillsborough law” as the legacy of their three decade-long fight for justice. Drafted by Pete Weatherby KC, who had represented 22 families at the 2014-16 inquests, the proposed law would establish a duty of candour that legally required public authorities and police to assist completely in court proceedings and inquiries after a large-scale incident. It would also secure equal public funding for legal representation for bereaved people as compared to the funding allocated to public authorities, police and the companies involved.
The government’s delay in responding to the report has been a source of frustration and upset for the victims’ families. Last month, the government put forward proposals for a duty of candour that added clauses to the code of practice for police chief constables, requiring them to ensure their officers acted “in an open and transparent way,” which the families have criticised as insufficient
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