Duty of candor for law enforcement, new organization that will support families of victims of major disasters to help them deal with the judicial system and institutions, signing of the “Hillsborough Charter” that commits to “ a culture of honesty and transparency in public service »: The British government on Wednesday presented reforms to ensure that “the most unforgivable forms of institutional obstruction” suffered by the victims of the Hillsborough stadium tragedy in April 1989, “never reproduce”.

“The Hillsborough families have suffered multiple injustices and more than 34 years later there is no sufficient apology for what they suffered.”Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement. “I want to repeat this apology today and thank the Hillsborough families for their tenacity, patience and courage.”he added.

A 97th victim recognized in 2021

Last January, British police apologized and announced reforms that included measures to prevent the loss or destruction of evidence. In 2016, British justice condemned the police and the officers responsible for stadium security, considering that there were deficiencies in the organization, denouncing in particular an error in decision-making, the fateful opening of a stadium gate that caused the deadly stampede.

The horrific crowd riot at this Sheffield stadium on 15 April 1989, during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, killed 97 people. The incident initially resulted in the deaths of 94 people, trapped between the fences near the pitch, before two more people died. In 2021, a 97th victim was recognised, who died 32 years after being seriously injured at Hillsborough.