Sheffield Fire Service did not know where Hillsborough was

In one of the many bemusing findings from the Hillsborough Independent Panel report, it is revealed how the control room at Sheffield Fire Service did not know where Hillsborough football stadium was.

Yes, that’s right, the city’s control room representative did not know the address of the sports stadium where an FA Cup semi-final with over 40,000 people where in attendance. It’s just another instance of the sheer incompetence of the authorities involved on the day.

This is from a transcript of the phone call made by police to the fire service at 3.13pm:

The conversation also reveals how the police had already began their lies;

There’s been a major accident at Hillsborough Football Ground where the semi-final is. The crowds have forced their way in – they’ve broken fences and the gates down. I don’t know exactly what it is but there are people trapped.

The Hillsborough Family Support Group met at Anfield on Sunday to discuss the findings from last week’s HIP report and released the following statement:

The findings of the Hillsborough Independent Panel have finally vindicated the families in their 23-year struggle to establish the truth. However, after truth must come justice. We have spoken today to our lawyers and taken initial advice.

As the families have always believed and insisted, it was the actions and inaction of those in authority that caused the deaths at Hillsborough on April 15, 1989.

The fans did not contribute to the tragedy. Any blame previously laid at their door has been shown to be part of a despicable conspiracy by those in authority to tarnish the reputations of the dead, the survivors of the disaster and the people of Liverpool. This conspiracy has been revealed for what it is; a bid to avoid accountability.Those responsible can avoid accountability no longer.

We strongly condemn the comments made this week by the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police which sought once again to suggest that the fans contributed in some way to the tragedy despite the Hillsborough Independent Panel’s findings.

The scale of the wrongdoing and cover up is monumental and even greater than feared. It will leave an indelible stain on the reputations of those authorities in whom the public implicitly placed their trust.

Looking to the future, there are three avenues that we will rigorously follow to ensure that justice for the families is finally achieved:

First, the report of the Hillsborough Independent Panel clearly shows that the previous inquest proceeded on a false factual basis. Its conclusions can therefore no longer stand. We urge the Attorney General to apply for a new inquest as soon as possible. The families believe that a new inquest is absolutely necessary in order to ensure that justice may be done. We feel strongly that the new inquest should be held in Liverpool.

Second, we demand a full and immediate investigation into criminal prosecutions that may be brought against all those responsible. The families believe that prosecutions must be brought not only against those whose actions caused the distress, injury and loss of life on the day, but also against those who altered the written witness evidence, spread deceitful and hurtful lies and otherwise acted to suppress the truth for the last 23 years.

Finally, where appropriate, we will apply for civil proceedings to be re-opened where they may have, in the past, been dismissed or settled on a false factual basis. We will also consider launching new claims that may be now brought in light of the report’s revelations.

We will not disclose the details of the advice we have received from our lawyers. However, we have instructed them to write on our behalf to all relevant parties, this coming week, to ensure that the machinery of the justice system is put into motion and the families receive a fair hearing. This is the first necessary step in what we hope will be the final stage of the families’ quest to secure justice at last.”

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