Only serving police officers must answer Hillsborough investigation questions under new law

ONLY serving police officers - not those that have retired - will be compelled to give evidence to an investigation into the Hillsborough cover-up, it emerged yesterday.

A fast-track law will be passed by Christmas, enabling the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) to begin quizzing witnesses early in the New Year, the Home Secretary said.

But ministers are believed to have decided it is better to act swiftly than to be dragged into a dispute about whether the powers can be extended to former officers, who are now civilians.

Whitehall sources said ex-officers would be expected to attend an interview as would any "conscientious member of the public" - given the huge importance of the investigation.

And they did not rule out toughening up the law further next year, if it emerged that further action was needed to ensure no-one involved in the cover-up escapes justice.

Announcing the Police (Complaints & Conduct) Bill - revealed by the ECHO yesterday - Theresa May said: "I made a commitment to ensure that the IPCC has the powers and resources it needs to carry out its investigations into the Hillsborough disaster.

"This commitment was made in the knowledge that the families of the victims and the survivors have waited 23 years for the truth about the disaster to be revealed.

"The IPCC has indicated that as part of its ongoing investigations, it will likely be in a position to call witnesses early in 2013."

The Bill will also allow the IPCC to probe any matter previously investigated by its predecessor, the Police Complaints Authority, the Home Secretary added.

Labour - which first pushed for the IPCC's powers to be strengthened - is believed to agree that it is better to get a simpler Bill through
parliament quickly.

However, it will continue to push for the appointment of a 'senior lead investigator' to pull together all the Hillsborough inquiries and ensure
they do not drag on for years.

The investigator would co-ordinate inquiries by the IPCC, by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and an expected probe by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The landmark findings of the Hillsborough Panel have left the IPCC carrying out the largest inquiry ever into police conduct in the UK.

It is examining the role played by up to 2,444 police officers, who served at 25 different forces - not including South Yorkshire Police.

The Bill published yesterday will cover officers who have moved to a different force since the 1989 tragedy, as well as current civilian
employees.

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