You’ll never walk alone

The events of Hillsborough were tragic, as has been noted in these pages last week. The events are etched into the memory and consciousness of a whole city, and much of the pain, grief, suffering and despair still remains twenty years on. The remembrance service at Anfield saw a city unwilling to accept the political manoeuvring and gesturing; instead the city showed unity in a common desire to seek justice for those who died and those left behind. The pressure of a city standing united in its grief ultimately led to the news that Jacqui Smith has called for files to be opened. Can the families and friends now have justice from this harrowing disaster?

Whilst it may be premature to speculate as to the findings of opening up the secret files, many of the ‘unanswered questions’ have in fact been answered. Lord Taylor’s report placed the blame squarely at the hands of the police, but the reason that the campaign has continued, and must continue, is the fact that nobody from the South Yorkshire police has accepted culpability for many errors that were made that day. This is now the central tenet of the justice campaign.

The importance of the police files could be the key that unlocks where the guilt lies. Questions remain as to why ambulances were denied access to the pitch, why did the police say there was ‘fighting’? What decisions were being made in the control room of the police? Were any people still alive after 3.15pm who could have been saved? Finally, who inside the police force decided upon resorting to using the media in a cowardly effort to avoid guilt? The families have every right to know if these decisions were taken as part of a conscious effort by senior officers on the day.

Either outcome raises questions. If there was a concerted effort by police, can they be held to account? In contrast, if police were not conscious of the unfolding tragedy, why? How could the police be so incompetent on such a big occasion? Ultimately, many will have concluded that the former is true, with the notion that police were negligent, and as they witnessed the events unfold, they sought to try and get away from being held responsible.

What constitutes ‘justice’? It is difficult to know exactly, but there haven’t been apologies by those at the top, there hasn’t even been a thorough police explanation of the events. The hope therefore remains that the files will reveal at least some of the police thinking. Yet, more crucially, if the files do show negligence, justice surely calls for those in charge to face up to their actions, perhaps on a charge of corporate manslaughter. This is the sort of justice that many feel is necessary, and indeed, deserved, by the victims and their loved ones.

The victims have been through twenty years of strife, suicides, guilt, anguish and pain. These manifested themselves in the case of Alcock v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire in psychiatric harm cases. No justice was delivered here. It appears bleak, yet the city has stood strong for twenty years, and the solidarity has yielded some results. The establishment may be completely at odds with the struggle, but we cannot abandon the memory until justice is done, and no matter how doubtful, we must remain hopeful that the victims can get the justice they deserve.