Senior police officers have apologised for its failings in the Hillsborough tragedy.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) provided an official response to a report by Reverend James Jones into the unlawful killing of 97 Liverpool fans.
Published in 2017, the former Bishop of Liverpool called for action to support those impacted by the disaster and establish a ‘duty of candour’ for officers.
Rt Revd Jones also urged forces to tackle the ‘unacceptable behaviour’ of its retired and serving employees who fail to cooperated with misconduct probes.
Leaders from the NPCC and the College of Policing have now apologised for the ‘pain and suffering’ experienced by families of the Hillsborough victims.
NPCC chair Martin Hewitt made the statement at Tuesday’s launch of a report setting out a commitment of forces to learn from the 1989 disaster’s failings.
Andy Marsh, chief executive for the College of Policing, described events in Sheffield as a ‘touchstone for long-lasting change’ towards a police service acting with ‘integrity and empathy’.
He said: “Policing has profoundly failed those bereaved by the Hillsborough disaster over many years and we are sorry that the service got it so wrong.
“Police failures were the main cause of the tragedy and have continued to blight the lives of family members ever since.
“When leadership was most needed, the bereaved were often treated insensitively and the response lacked coordination and oversight.”