Police Commissioner's Statement On Government Response To Hillsborough Families Report

The Police & Crime Commissioner's Statement On The Government Response To The Hillsborough Families Report

Anfield, the stadium of Liverpool Football Club (Credit: The Liverpudlian/This image is an original piece of work by The Liverpudlian Team).

Merseyside's Police Commissioner has released a statement following the Government’s official response to the Hillsborough Families Report.

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: 'The Hillsborough families and survivors have endured unimaginable heartache for decades. Suffering which has been compounded by institutional delay, after delay, after inexcusable delay.'

Commissioner Spurrell, said: 'It is an utter disgrace the Government has once again tested their enduring patience by taking six years, and numerous Prime Ministers and Home Secretaries, to dignify Bishop James’s report with a response.'

She added: 'To apologise today, does not undo the harm yet more waiting has caused those who have suffered so deeply.'

She said: 'While today’s official response includes some long overdue steps in the right direction, it falls short of the Hillsborough Law called for by the families and their supporters.'

The Commissioner added: 'Committing to a Hillsborough Law would help to rebalance the scales of justice, ensuring bereaved families are treated in a fairer, more just way.'

She said: 'There has been significant progress in increasing accountability and transparency within our justice system and the duty of candour for policing further embeds the commitment to ensuring no other families are so badly let down.'

She said: 'But there can be no room for complacency.'

The Commissioner added: 'The introduction of a statutory duty of candour on all public servants would ensure these principles are enshrined across all bodies which have a role serving the public and help to ensure no other families are forced to endure the injustice they have experienced.'