On April 15, 1989, the decisions of certain police officers caused the tragic deaths of 96 football fans and injured more than 700 people. Police failings that day meant that far too many football fans were allowed into the pens to watch the FA Cup semi final game and thus resulted in a human crush. The emergency services failed 96 people, as ambulances were unable to enter the pitch area and police officers were seen simply standing by as innocent people were crushed to death.
The truth of what really happened was not revealed for 27 years. Instead, one of the biggest police coverups took place, insisting it was the actions of fans that caused the tragic happenings that day. Back in the 1980s, when football hooliganism was at its prime and an overall anti-government and establishment view was popular (much due to the miners strike against Margaret Thatcher's Tory government), it was all too easy for the police to blame the “ticketless and drunk” Liverpool fans, and with the support of local MPs and the government at the time, the truth was buried for 27 years.
The South Yorkshire Police department cleverly used the media to their advantage, with lies being written about how “some fans picked pockets of victims, urinated on the brave cops, beat up PC giving kiss of life” in one national newspaper. These were then admitted as false allegations, and the corruption behind the disaster was starting to become apparent. However, it did not just stop there. Statements were given by witnesses and police officers to the the disaster, parts of their statements indicating police officials "instructed them to open the gate" to the pens were removed and altered.
Only last week did the 75 families of those killed at Hillsborough find the truth they had believed for so long after listening to a catalog of corrupt actions and lies. Now, they will go after justice and begin criminal proceedings against those involved in the coverup.
Corruption involving the police can be seen everywhere. I came to this understanding about two years ago while attending an entertainment night with my family. One particular avid fan was enjoying the night and had obviously been drinking. However, the man was in no way a threat to himself or anyone else; he was simply letting his hair down to some of his favorite songs and had a very jovial aura about him. When the security guard came over and asked the man to leave, he refused, to which the officer then gave him the chance to leave by choice or force. He eventually got up and followed the security guard outside to discuss the situation, and we did not see him for the remainder of the night. The saying, "out of sight, out of mind," comes to mind in this situation; I only thought about what had happened to the fan when I saw him outside the building, covered in blood with a bad blow to his head. A story that accredited the injuries to falling off the curb as he left the building, given the amount of blood on his face, would have been impossible. The police officers dealing with the situation were perfectly happy accepting this story, where to any by passer, it was clear that the spectator had been assaulted by the security guard. After raising my concerns to the police officer, starting in a calm manner and then understandably becoming more frustrated as I could sense the lies and corruption coming into play, I was told to leave the area and refrain from making any more allegations.
That night has stayed with me; I can still remember it vividly. But what I remember most was not the visual picture of what happened, but rather the feelings that came over me of anger and frustration and above all, helplessness. I witnessed low level corruption, and I can't begin to imagine what the families of the victims of Hillsborough felt. What could I do? Two security guards and two police officers stating that the man had tripped over the curb against one intoxicated fan. You feel helpless and disappointed. The people you are told will protect you and keep your environment safe are not the people you expected but, instead, are liars and corrupted. Sadly, the Hillsborough case and the one I witnessed are singled cases, as a report published by HMIC stated that more than 900 officers were disciplined for corruption. Worse, those 900 were only 900 of the more than 3,000 investigations that took place.
Maybe some time in the future, when more liberal, open minds are in the positions of power within establishments like the police, we will see less corruption. It is so detrimental to the police service as a whole, where many officers are perfectly capable at performing their jobs to ensure that society is safe.
