Hillsborough disaster: West Midlands Police 'cover-up' files to be sent to prosecutors
Evidence files detailing whether West Midlands Police was part of a cover-up over the Hillsborough disaster will be passed to prosecutors at the end of the year, it was revealed today.
Former officers could face criminal charges over the force's investigation into the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans at the Sheffield stadium 27 years ago, the police watchdog said.
Allegations of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, perverting the course of justice, perjury, and misconduct in public office are being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
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Yesterday the inquest jury found that 96 football fans who died as a result of a crush at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest were unlawfully killed.
It was one of 14 conclusions reached by the jury of nine who also determined that Liverpool supporters played no part in the causes of the disaster.
The rulings could see former police chief David Duckenfield stand trial for manslaughter.
Attention now focuses on two criminal investigations into the tragedy, which have followed 26,000 lines of inquiry.
The IPCC today released new details about their investigation into the conduct of West Midlands Police which was responsible for investigating the disaster and supporting the original inquests and the Taylor Inquiry.
The probe is centred on:
Whether evidence or key lines of inquiry were suppressed, twisted or investigated
If there was collusion between West Midlands and South Yorkshire Police
If influence was placed upon the original coroner Dr Stefan Popper
Whether officers were directed on how to collect, record, and categorise evidence
Officers' line of questioning with witnesses, particularly a focus on alcohol
How offices recorded information from fans and dealt with them in interview
How the force dealt with complaints made against South Yorkshire Police
And whether families of victims were placed under surveillance
IPCC deputy chairman Rachel Cerfontyne said: "We are investigating individuals in terms of West Midlands Police and what we are looking at is how they conducted their investigations.
"Fundamentally the issues are did they conduct them to the standard you would expect them to have, did they do them in a robust way, follow the right lines of inquiry, do all the searching for evidence you would expect them to do, and were the files they submitted at the end comprehensive.
"But also, looking at the way they conducted themselves, what was the kind of questioning when they were questioning witnesses – was there a particular focus, for example, alcohol. Was there an agenda?
"So what we are looking at in terms of West Midlands Police is was there any collusion, was there participation in any potential cover-up."
The number of West Midlands Police officers under investigation has not been disclosed. West Midlands Police declined to comment.
It also emerged today that Wolves' 1981 FA Cup semi-final with Tottenham Hotspur at Hillsborough has been the subject of a criminal investigation.
