Yvette Cooper: Much more still needs to be done to strengthen the Hillsborough inquiry powers |

Sunday 21st October 2012 | 09:25

Yvette Cooper: Much more still needs to be done to strengthen the Hillsborough inquiry powers

Yvette Cooper press release

- Labour will tomorrow as part of Hillsborough debate in Parliament call for emergency legislation to give Hillsborough investigations the powers they need

- We will work with Government to get this done through emergency legislation or any other way they came forward with

- IPCC, Police and Labour agree powers they have now insufficient for what is needed - Hillsborough being biggest inquiry into police malpractice ever

- Our reform of IPCC into new Police Standards Authority will not be done in time - Hillsborough inquiries cannot be left behind with limited ability to compel witnesses and gain 3rd party evidence

Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary said:

“The families of the 96 waited far, far long for the truth. Now after the Hillsborough Panel Report, they need justice.

“The inquest will be immensely important. But we also need a comprehensive and criminal investigation into the cover up. And I am concerned that much more still needs to be done to strengthen the inquiry arrangements.

"For example the inquiry into the cover up will need to get to the bottom of why so many police statements were altered. Yet although the Independent Police Complaints Commission can pursue officers it believes have committed crimes, it doesn't have the powers to compel serving or former officers to be interviewed as witnesses. Nor can it compel civilians to give evidence.

"Everything possible should be done now to remove these obstacles to justice for the Hillsborough families. We can’t let further inquiries drag on for years because they didn’t have the powers or resources to get results.

"The IPCC has itself called for more powers. We believe emergency legislation is needed to give the IPCC the extra powers it needs and has asked for, or the Government will need to find some other way to set up a proper independent investigation into what happened in South Yorkshire police. We will work with the Government to make sure this can happen.

"We hope the Government will also appoint someone to oversee the entirety of the investigations that need to happen, including into other agencies such as the Ambulance Service and the links to the inquests.

“For too long the truth on Hillsborough has been covered up. Justice must not be delayed or avoided now."