Police were guilty of "deep complacency", "fundamental failure" and a "concerted effort" to blame fans during and after the Hillsborough disaster, according to a report from the police watchdog.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has spent 13 years carrying out the largest ever independent investigation into alleged police misconduct and criminality.

Its report identified a dozen officers - including the then-chief constable of South Yorkshire Police - who would have had a case to answer for gross misconduct had they still been serving. A 13th officer would have potentially faced a misconduct case.

Image: An ambulance on the pitch during the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. Pic: Action Images via Reuters

Image: The scene in front of the West Terrace at Hillsborough at 3.11pm

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