The Hillsborough disaster started a more than 35-year battle for transparency and accountability from powers of authority in this country. 

This timeline traces the journey from the disaster in 1989 to the introduction of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill in parliament.

1989: The Disaster

On 15 April 1989, a fatal crush occurred at Hillsborough Stadium during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. 

Ninety-seven men, women, and children would go on to lose their lives, and hundreds more were injured. In the immediate aftermath, blame was wrongly placed on supporters, setting the stage for years of misinformation and injustice.

1990: The Taylor Report

In August 1990, the Taylor Report was published following an official inquiry. It identified serious failures by South Yorkshire Police and recommended sweeping reforms to stadium safety, including the introduction of all-seater stadiums. 

While these changes improved safety standards, they did not deliver justice for the victims and their families.

1991: The Original Inquests

Between 1989 and 1991, the first inquests into the disaster were held. 

These hearings returned verdicts of “accidental death” for all victims. The scope of the inquests was severely limited, excluding evidence after 3:15 pm on the day of the disaster. This restriction meant that the emergency response was never properly examined, leaving families without answers and reinforcing a narrative that wrongly blamed fans.

1997–2009: The Campaign for Truth

For more than a decade, families and supporters continued to fight for justice. In 1997, the Labour government ordered the disclosure of previously unseen documents, but progress remained slow. 

In 2009, the Hillsborough Independent Panel was established to review hundreds of thousands of documents and uncover the truth.

2012: The Independent Panel Report

In September 2012, the Hillsborough Independent Panel published its findings. The report revealed the scale of the cover-up, including altered police statements, failures in the emergency response, and false narratives blaming supporters. 

Following these revelations, the High Court quashed the original inquest verdicts, paving the way for new hearings.

2014–2016: The Fresh Inquests

Fresh inquests began in March 2014 and concluded in April 2016, becoming the longest in British legal history. The jury found that the victims were unlawfully killed due to gross negligence by match commander David Duckenfield. 

The inquests also confirmed that South Yorkshire Police bore primary responsibility for the disaster and that failures by ambulance services contributed to the loss of life. These verdicts marked a turning point, vindicating families after 27 years of struggle.

2017: Hillsborough Law Proposed

In 2017, the first draft of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill was introduced as a Private Member’s Bill. This proposal sought to create a statutory duty of candour for public officials and ensure equal legal representation for bereaved families at inquests. 

The campaign for Hillsborough Law began to gain national attention.

2020–2023: Hillsborough Law Now Campaign

Between 2020 and 2023, the Hillsborough Law Now campaign gathered momentum. Coalition groups such as Grenfell United and Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice joined forces with Hillsborough families to demand reform. 

Through lobbying, public engagement, and media advocacy, the campaign transformed into a national movement for accountability.

2025: Hillsborough Law Introduced

In 2025, the Public Office (Accountability) Bill was introduced into Parliament. It will hopefully pass and be enshrined into UK legislation by mid-2026.