An independent watchdog has discovered that a relative of one of the Hillsborough victims was placed under surveillance by police. Allegations of police surveillance have been ongoing for years, with multiple individuals claiming to have heard unusual clicking noises on phone calls. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigated 27 complaints from 25 individuals linked to the 1989 tragedy where 97 Liverpool fans lost their lives. While many complaints were too vague to be thoroughly investigated, one complaint was substantiated.
The IOPC revealed that a family member was followed by police officers for nearly a week, with direct interactions occurring at least once during this surveillance period. The report did not disclose the identity of the police force involved in the incident. The Hillsborough disaster occurred during a FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on April 15, 1989. Following the tragedy, South Yorkshire Police wrongly blamed Liverpool supporters for the disaster, a claim that has since been disproven after years of campaigning by the victims’ families.
The IOPC’s extensive investigation highlighted that 12 police officers would have faced gross misconduct charges due to their significant failures and deliberate attempts to shift blame onto fans. However, the families expressed disappointment as no disciplinary actions could be taken against the officers, as they are no longer in service. Norman Bettison and Ch Insp David Duckenfield were among the officers implicated in the report for their roles in the Hillsborough disaster.
Another upheld complaint involved West Midlands Police officers behaving in an intimidating manner towards a family member during a document retrieval process. The IOPC also criticized the bias of South Yorkshire Police during the investigation and highlighted concerns about the lack of evidence regarding telephone surveillance.
Furthermore, the report indicated that the law was amended in 2017 to allow ex-officers to face misconduct proceedings, but this change does not apply retroactively. The Police Federation of England and Wales issued an apology in response to criticism of its South Yorkshire branch’s handling of the report on the Hillsborough disaster. Liverpool West Derby Ian Byrne, a survivor of the tragedy, condemned the response from the Police Federation, calling it disgraceful.
In a formal apology, the CEO of the Police Federation expressed deep regret for the distress caused by the initial statement, acknowledging that it lacked the necessary care and respect for the Hillsborough victims, survivors, and families. The statement has since been retracted from all official platforms.