South Yorkshire Police Force "Got Hillsborough Policing Catastrophically Wrong"
The Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police admitted the force got the policing of the Hillsborough match "catastrophically wrong''
The Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police admitted the force got the policing of the Hillsborough match "catastrophically wrong'' as he accepted the unlawful killing verdicts and apologised to the victims' families.
David Crompton said relatives of those who died had been failed, and that officers "will now take time to carefully reflect on the implications of the verdicts''.
He read a contrite statement to waiting journalists and camera crews outside the force's headquarters in Sheffield, but did not take questions.
Mr Crompton said: "I want to make it absolutely clear that we unequivocally accept the verdict of unlawful killing and the wider findings reached by the jury in the Hillsborough Inquests.
"On 15th April 1989, South Yorkshire Police got the policing of the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough catastrophically wrong. It was and still is the biggest disaster in British sporting history. That day 96 people died and the lives of many others were changed forever. The force failed the victims and failed their families.
"Today, as I have said before, I want to apologise unreservedly to the families and all those affected.''
There are two ongoing criminal investigations into the Hillsborough disaster - focusing on the tragedy itself and allegations of corruption in the aftermath - that are expected to be completed in December or January.
Mr Crompton went on: "These inquests have been the longest inquests in British legal history, with nearly 300 days of evidence heard. Whilst these have been lengthy and difficult proceedings, they have once and for all provided a fresh opportunity to explore all of the available evidence about what happened. This has enabled the jury to reach the verdicts that they have today.
"The Hillsborough disaster changed the way in which major sporting events are policed and very many lessons have been learnt. With improvements in training, communications and technology, it is almost impossible to consider how the same set of circumstances could arise again today. We will now take time to carefully reflect on the implications of the verdicts.
"We recognise that this is an important day for the families of those who died at the Hillsborough disaster and for everyone affected by what happened. They have waited 27 years for this outcome. Our thoughts are with them.''