Government Hillsborough response 'doesn't have families' support'

Leader of the Hillsborough Law Now campaign produces scathing response to long-awaited government announcement

'This is not a Hillsborough Law and it does not have the support of the families'

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The official campaign for a Hillsborough Law have delivered a scathing response to today's government announcement and said the plans "do not have the support of the families."

After six years, the government has finally responded to a report by the former Bishop of Liverpool, James Jones, which recorded the experiences of the families of the victims of the 1989 disaster and laid out recommendations for changes in the law to ensure that others would not face the same painful fight for truth and justice that they have.

Today the government addressed elements of the Bishop's report, but stopped short of pledging to deliver the full Hillsborough Law that campaigners and families have called for.

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In its response today, the government said it had signed a Hillsborough charter, promising that no families will have to suffer the same injustices as those of the relatives of the 1989 disaster and has promised to implement a 'duty of candour' for policing in England and Wales, which aims to promote a culture of openness, honesty and transparency during investigations and public enquiries.

But the Hillsborough Law campaign labelled that code of conduct as "meaningless" and said it does not add to what already exists and "lacks any accountability for other public servants." The government response also does not address calls from the campaign for parity of legal funding between bereaved families and public bodies at inquests.

Responding to the announcement, Elkan Abrahamson, solicitor at Broudie Jackson Canter and director of Hillsborough Law Now slammed the government for the contents of its response, the length of time it has taken to produce and for publishing it on the same day as former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's appearance at the Covid Inquiry.

He said: "To wait six years for a government to respond to a report about a disaster that took place 34 years ago speaks volumes. To deliver that response on a day when all eyes are on a former prime minister giving evidence to the Covid Inquiry only seeks to increase the cynicism felt amongst Hillsborough families and the thousands of others who would benefit from a change in the law.

“What we have heard from the Home Secretary today is misleadingly being characterised as a 'Hillsborough Law'. It isn’t. The one relevant clause in the Criminal Justice Bill (clause 73), falls way short of what campaigners have asked for, it is not a 'Hillsborough Law', and it does not have the support of the families.

"It merely provides for a meaningless code of conduct for the police which does not add to what already exists. It lacks any accountability for other public servants, for national and local public services, and for private companies and their officers responsible for public health and safety.

"Today, of all days, when we have Boris Johnson giving evidence at the Covid Inquiry, surely demonstrates the need for more public accountability across all public services. The government is not listening to those who know only too well the barriers the state puts up when the truth is called for.

“Only the full reintroduction of the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill, which was introduced by Andy Burnham but fell when the 2017 general election was called, will do; namely making a duty of candour enforceable, and ensuring a level playing field between public authorities and those affected by disasters and wrongdoing at inquests and inquiries."

Mr Abrahamson added: “Keir Starmer has pledged to enact this wide-ranging bill if he leads the Labour Party into power, and tiresome as it is to have to keep reminding the government of this, we will again be asking them to do the same. All public servants must be accountable for their actions. Is their reluctance to do so entirely self-serving?”

The Hillsborough Survivors Association today repeated its call for a full Hillsborough Law. In a statement they said: "34 years ago, our members attended a game of football in Sheffield. We travelled full of hope, expectation and excitement, like thousands of other supporters.

"Unlike 97 of our fellow fans, we came home to see and hold our loved ones, something many never got to do. Over the years we have had the indignity of having to listen to a false police narrative, spreading malicious lies about how the fans were supposedly drunk, ticketless and violent, now all shown to be baseless lies.

"That these lies, and worse, were repeated at the inquiry and inquests is an affront to us and to anyone seeking the truth to learn the lessons of Hillsborough."

The statement added: "That those responsible for those lies acted with impunity is beyond debate, all prosecutions over the cover up failed. Not because there was no cover up, but because police officers misleading a public inquiry is not a criminal offence.

"We are used to waiting, to delay but we won’t be going away. We demand something really simple, that laws are put in place to ensure any repetition of the police lies over Hillsborough, would result in criminal charges.

"That is why we need a change of law, to introduce a duty of candour for all public officials. Whilst the police have led the way in numerous cover ups, the health service is another area where change is needed."

The survivors' group added: "We thank all the family members, fellow survivors, campaigners, politicians and journalists who have refused to be silenced over the years and we continue to stand in solidarity with all the organisations and campaigners demanding a Hillsborough Law Now. As survivors we were fully exonerated at the inquests by a jury, yet the police smears remain and are often repeated to this day. Seven years on, we today add our voice to those demanding a Hillsborough Law be legislated, in full."

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