Findings Taylor Report

1 findings

1.1 police control
1.2 aggravating factors
1.3 police evasion
1.4 effect on stadiums in britain

findings

taylor concluded policing on 15 april broke down , although there other causes, main reason disaster failure of police control. attention focused on decision open secondary gates; moreover, kick-off should have been delayed, had been done @ other venues , matches.

sheffield wednesday criticised inadequate number of turnstiles @ leppings lane end , poor quality of crush barriers on terraces, respects in failure club contributed disaster.

police control

taylor found there no provision controlling entry of spectators turnstile area. questioned why more action had not been taken screen individuals , improve flow of supporters approaching stadium west turnstile area small , awkwardly laid out , senior police officers responded policy , practice had been no different in past, , had no reason anticipate problems earlier events had proceeded without major incident. in fact, taylor noted 2 occasions when entry @ leppings lane had been sole access north , west sides of ground, @ 1987 , 1988 semi-finals, evidence of congestion @ both, owing fortune , circumstance police policy not put same test , strain year later .

the senior police officers said had never happened before there no reason foresee it. in fact, 2 previous occasions when leppings lane terraces had been used fill whole of north , west sides of ground @ 2 semi-finals, in 1987 , 1988. in 1987, match on sunday scheduled 12 noon, , kick-off postponed quarter of hour because of late arrivals.

the need open gate c due dangerous congestion @ turnstiles. occurred because, both club , police should have realised, turnstile area not cope large numbers demanded of unless arrived steadily on lengthy period. operational order , police tactics on day failed provide controlling concentrated arrival of large numbers should occur in short period. might occur foreseeable , did.

as result of inadequate number of turnstiles, has been calculated have taken until 3:40 pm ticket holders leppings lane end had exit gate not been opened. gate c opened let fans in, number of fans entering terrace not thought have been more capacity of entire standing area. once inside stadium, fans entering terraces headed central pens 3 , 4, directed large sign above access tunnel.

since pens 3 , 4 full 2.50 pm, tunnel should have been closed off whether gate c opened or not. ... [i]t should have been clear in control room there view of pens , of crowd @ turnstiles tunnel had closed. if orders had been given effect when gate c opened, fans have been directed empty areas of wings , disaster still have been avoided. failure give order blunder of first magnitude.

standard procedure league fixtures estimate size of visiting fan base, determine how many enclosures need opened, fill each standing area 1 @ time. all-ticket games had sold out, such semi-final matches, different approach adopted whereby supporters allowed enter enclosure wished upon arrival. there no mechanical or electronic means calculating when individual enclosures had reached capacity. police officer made visual assessment before guiding fans other pens.

whilst in theory police intervene if pen became full , in practice permitted test of fullness fans tolerate. 2.52 pm when gate c opened, pens 3 , 4 over-full test. many uncomfortable. allow more pens cause injuries; allow in large stream courting disaster.

the official combined capacity of central pens 2,200, health , safety executive found should have been reduced 1,693 crush barriers , perimeter gates did not conform green guide. estimated more 3,000 people in pens shortly after kick off @ 3:00 pm. overcrowding caused fatal crush.

when spectators first appeared on track, immediate assumption in control room pitch invasion threatened. unlikely @ beginning of match. became still less when on track made no move towards pitch. ... [t]here no effective leadership either control or on pitch harness , organise rescue efforts. no orders given officers enter tunnel , relieve pressure.

the anxiety protect sanctity of pitch has caused insufficient attention paid risk of crush due overcrowding. was, once crush occurred on 15 april gates 3 , 4 wholly inadequate rescue purposes.

lord taylor regarded spectator allocation irrelevant disaster. not consider choice of ends causative of disaster. had been reversed, disaster have occurred in similar manner nottingham supporters.

aggravating factors

there (now discredited) accusations behaviour of liverpool fans contributed disaster centred around consumption of alcohol before game , attempts enter ground without ticket. although lord taylor acknowledged these aggravated situation, secondary factors. witness estimates of number of fans drunk varied minority large proportion of crowd. although clear many fans had been drinking, lord taylor unequivocally stated of them were: not drunk, nor worse drink . concluded formed exacerbating factor , police, seeking rationalise loss of control, overestimated element of drunkenness in crowd.

the hillsborough independent panel later noted that, despite being dismissed taylor report, idea alcohol contributed disaster proved remarkably durable. documents later disclosed confirm repeated attempts made find supporting evidence alcohol being factor, , available evidence misinterpreted. noted weight placed on alcohol in face of objective evidence of pattern of consumption modest leisure event inappropriate. has since fuelled persistent , unsustainable assertions drunken fan behaviour.

the possibility of fans attempting gain entry without tickets or forged tickets suggested contributing factor. south yorkshire police suggested late arrival of fans amounted conspiracy gain entry without tickets. however, analysis of electronic monitoring system, health , safety executive analysis, , eyewitness accounts showed total number of people entered leppings lane end below official capacity of stand. eyewitness reports suggested tickets available on day , tickets leppings lane end on sale anfield until day before. report dismissed conspiracy theory.

police evasion

taylor concluded criticism of south yorkshire police describing senior officers in command defensive , evasive witnesses refused accept responsibility error.

in 65 police officers gave oral evidence @ inquiry. sadly must report part quality of evidence in inverse proportion rank.

it matter of regret @ hearing, , in submissions, south yorkshire police not prepared concede in respect @ fault in occurred. ... [t]he police case blame fans being late , drunk, , blame club failing monitor pens. ... such unrealistic approach gives cause anxiety whether lessons have been learnt. have been more seemly , encouraging future if responsibility had been faced.

effect on stadiums in britain

the new den, opened in 1993, became first new stadium compliant safety recommendations of taylor report.

the taylor report had deep impact on safety standards stadiums in uk. perimeter , lateral fencing removed , many top stadiums converted all-seated. purpose-built stadiums premier league , football league teams since report all-seater. chester city f.c. s deva stadium first english football stadium fulfil safety recommendations of taylor report, millwall f.c. s den being first new stadium built fulfilled recommendations.

lord taylor noted evidence received overwhelmingly in favour of more seating accommodation , in favour of reversing two-thirds one-third standing-seating ratio. final report made 76 recommendations, including reduction in standing in line evidence that, after given timescale, stadiums designated under safety of sports ground act 1975 should admit spectators seated accommodation only. number of recommendations not implemented, including all-seating sports other football. football spectators act (1989) contained regulation requiring football grounds become all-seated directed secretary of state. overseen football licensing authority (now sport grounds safety authority).

in july 1992, government announced relaxation of regulation lower 2 english leagues (known league 1 , league two). football spectators act not cover scotland, scottish premier league chose make all-seater stadiums requirement of league membership. regulations applied berwick rangers, team located in england , playing in scotland s national leagues. in england , wales all-seating requirement of premier league , of football league clubs have been present in championship more 3 seasons.

several campaigns have been active in attempting government relax regulation , allow standing areas return premiership , championship grounds.