Hillsborough: Families call for immediate resignations
Families of the victims called for the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police and the head of the county's ambulance service to resign immediately.
Families of the victims called for the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police and the head of the county's ambulance service to resign immediately.
At a press conference following the verdicts of the two-year inquest, which recorded a decision of unlawful killing of the 96 Liverpool fans, the families of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign made the calls.
Stephen Wright, whose both Graham died in the tragedy, said the primary responsibility of the disaster lies at the door of the incompetence'' of the match commander David Duckenfield who hadoverall command''.
Others failed as well, but in the final analysis our loved ones would have lived but for the gross failings of the police,'' said Mr Wright.
He said it was no surprise'' to the families that South Yorkshire Police have been foundcomprehensively responsible'' for the disaster and the deaths.
The evidence over the past two years has been overwhelming, yet South Yorkshire Police and their senior officers have tried to look truth in the eye and deny responsibility and shift blame onto others.
In particular, innocent football fans. For 27 years, we the victims of this tragedy have had to live with the outrage of such institutional denial.''
He said, after publication of the Hillsborough Independent panel report in 2012, the current Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police appeared to face up to responsibility''.
Mr Wright added: However, such a comprehensive admission of responsibility, not only for the disaster and loss of life, but also for the dishonest and outrageous cover-up was not honoured in these current inquests.''
He said the legal teams of the force pursued denials of the past'' and blamedmythical, late and drunken'' fans for the deaths.
For this reason, we the 22 families call for the immediate resignation of David Crompton, the chief constable,'' he added.
He said Mr Crompton has let down the police force, the general public and police and fire officers there on the day in 1989 who were traumatised'' by the events.
Charlotte Hennessy, whose father James died, said from both the police and South Yorkshire Ambulance Service it was a hopeless emergency response'', saying theyfailed the 96''.
She added: Despite having a designated unit at the ground, with two station officers, two other personnel and an ambulance, they failed to react to the disaster unfolding before them.
From both the police and ambulance service it was a hopeless emergency response and undoubtedly increased the loss of life.''
The families also called for the current chief executive of the South Yorkshire Ambulance Service to resign or be removed''.