The police watchdog has confirmed that a family member of a Hillsborough victim was placed under surveillance, following years of allegations from bereaved relatives and campaigners.
Watchdog Investigation Upholds Key Complaint
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigated 27 complaints from 25 people connected to the 1989 tragedy, which claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool fans. While many allegations were too vague to probe effectively, one was substantiated.
The IOPC stated it looked in detail into one specific allegation, where a family member was conspicuously followed by police officers for almost a week. On at least one occasion, the individual spoke directly to the officers. The report did not name the police force involved.
A Legacy of Failure and Smears
The disaster unfolded on 15 April 1989 during an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium. Police opened an exit gate to ease crowding but failed to direct fans away from a tunnel leading to the overcrowded central pens.
As people lay dying, South Yorkshire Police launched a campaign to blame Liverpool supporters, falsely claiming they arrived late, drunk, and without tickets. Decades of campaigning by the families eventually proved these smears untrue.
The IOPC's £150 million investigation concluded that 12 police officers would have faced gross misconduct proceedings for "fundamental failures" on the day and "concerted efforts" to blame fans afterwards. However, no one will face disciplinary action as they are no longer serving officers.
Other Findings and Official Responses
Another upheld complaint involved officers from West Midlands Police, who were sent to retrieve a document from a family member and behaved in an "unnecessarily intimidating way." The IOPC found this force, which was tasked with investigating South Yorkshire Police's actions, was "biased" against supporters and in favour of its fellow force.
The watchdog said it found no records of telephone surveillance, though it noted this could mean none took place or that records were lawfully destroyed. The Home Office declined to confirm or deny if any phone interception occurred.
The IOPC also investigated five burglaries where documents of potential value only to police were stolen, but found no evidence of police involvement.
The Police Federation of England and Wales apologised after its South Yorkshire branch called the IOPC report a "significant waste of taxpayers' time and money." The Federation's CEO said the statement was "wrong" and had been removed, offering a deep apology for the distress caused.
