CPS: Two Hillsborough disaster suspects will not face further charges
Friday 15 December 2017 12:47, UK
The Crown Prosecution Service will not bring charges against two further suspects referred by the Independent Police Complaints Commission following an investigation into the Hillsborough disaster, it has announced.
The police watchdog had submitted files relating to a South Yorkshire Police mounted officer and a farrier contracted to work for the force, following allegations about falsified evidence relating to a police horse being injured outside the stadium.
A CPS statement read: "The CPS has this week informed families of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster that no charges have been authorised against two individuals following an investigation by the IPCC.
"The IPCC investigated the conduct of a former South Yorkshire Police mounted officer and a civilian farrier, in relation to an allegation made in 1989 that a police horse was burned with cigarettes by Liverpool supporters.
"The mounted police officer was seen on camera lashing out towards fans who he later claimed were burning his horse.
"The farrier was a friend of the police officer and he claimed to have seen serious injuries to the horse.
"The allegation was that their accounts were false and were given to protect the police officer from disciplinary action.
"A full file of evidence was received from the IPCC in June 2017 and has been subject to thorough consideration by CPS prosecutors.
"It has been concluded that in relation to the police officer, the evidential threshold has not been met and there is not a realistic prospect of conviction.
"The evidential threshold for a charge of perverting the course of justice was met in the case of the civilian farrier. In accordance with the two-stage test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors, the public interest in pursuing the case was then considered. It was concluded that it is not in the public interest to prosecute this individual and so no charge was authorised."
