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Hillsborough charges ruling due next week

A decision on whether charges will be brought over the Hillsborough disaster will be made next week.

Files for a total of 23 individuals and organisations were passed to the Crown Prosecution Service in January following the conclusion of a joint probe by two police regulatory bodies.

Operation Resolve and the Independent Police Complaints Commission took the decision following an independent panel’s finding into the tragedy back in 2012.

A total of 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives at Hillsborough on April 15, 1989 – a decision which was ruled as unlawful killing at last year’s inquests.

Bereaved families will be informed of the CPS’ decision at a meeting in Warrington, where the inquests were held, on Wednesday, June 28.

A spokesman said: “Today (22 June), relevant parties including families and suspects have been informed that the CPS will be announcing its charging decisions in respect of those individuals and organisations referred by the IPCC and Operation Resolve on Wednesday, June 28.”

Should a public prosecution be declared, several former South Yorkshire Police officers could face trial over their part in the disaster and its aftermath.

David Duckenfield was found to have caused the fatal overcrowding due to gross negligence by the inquest as the stadium’s match commander in Sheffield.