Hillsborough families to learn if anyone will face charges over the tragedy

The families of the Hillsborough victims will learn on Wednesday if anyone will face charges, after the inquest into the tragedy ruled that all 96 had been unlawfully killed.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been considering files of evidence against 23 individuals and organisations, including several former senior police officers.

David Duckenfield, 72, the retired police officer who was in charge of the operation 27-years-ago, is one of a number of people who could face gross negligence manslaughter charges.

Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, the Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Sheffield Council could also find themselves in the dock over blunders which allegedly contributed to the deaths of the supporters.

But the CPS has also been considering allegations of perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public office against a number of former police officers relating to a cover up.

The original inquest in 1991 ruled that the deaths were accidental, but those verdicts were quashed following an independent report which concluded that a major cover up had taken place to shift the blame for the disaster onto the victims.

Following the disaster on April 15 1989, it is alleged officers from South Yorkshire Police conspired to blame the fans for the tragedy with statements being changed and evidence hidden.

Police at the time briefed the media that the crush in the Leppings Lane end had been caused by drunken ticketless fans forcing the gates open in order to gain access to the ground.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) which has been probing the alleged conspiracy said it had identified 289 police accounts which had been amended.

However the families of the victims expressed concern that only eight officers were being considered for prosecution by the CPS.

Last year a fresh inquest concluded that those who died had been unlawfully killed in a tragedy caused by a series of blunders.

The families of those who died are due to meet with Sue Hemming, the head of special crime and counter-terror at the CPS, on Wednesday morning to learn, who if anyone involved on the day is to be charged.

Mr Duckenfield, who left South Yorkshire Police, aged 46, with an index linked pension, reportedly worth £26,000 a year, told the inquest last year that his decision to open the exit gates at the Leppings Lane end remained one of the "biggest regrets" of his life.

Who could face charges?

Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield

Promoted just a month earlier, Duckenfield was in overall charge of policing the match on the fateful day, despite having little experience of dealing with big games.

Duckenfield repeatedly refused to open the gates at the Leppings Lane end, despite his officers warning that "someone will be killed".

Eventually, after deciding against delaying the kick off, he ordered that Gate C was opened, allowing 2,000 people to pour into the ground.

Assistant Chief Constable Walter Jackson

The most senior police officer on duty on the day, ACC Jackson had been in the directors' box when the game kicked off but went to the police control box when it became clear there were problems.

Said he did not feel the need to take over from Duckenfield, but later admitted regretting not having used the codeword 'catastrophe' to signal the seriousness of what was unfolding.

Superintendent Roger Marshall

The police officer in charge outside the Leppings Lane end, he later expressed profound regrets at not asking for the kick off to be delayed.

Made several radio requests to for three exit gates to be opened as the crush began to build.

At the inquest described Duckenfield's claim that the Liverpool fans forced open the gates as a "wicked lie".

Paul Middup

The former South Yorkshire Police Federation secretary was accused of helping to spread the claims that the behaviour of the Liverpool fans had caused the disaster. Was not at the ground on the day, but later gave a series of interviews to the press.

In one TV interview he was asked whether the fans were to blame and replied: "The police certainly aren't to blame."

In another interview at the time he said: "I am sick of hearing how good the crowd were. Some arrived tanked up and the situation faced by officers was simply terrifying."

Yorkshire Ambulance Service

Despite calls from an ambulance worker to launch a major incident operation, nothing was initially done by the emergency services.

The inquest jury agreed that actions by the ambulance service caused or contributed to the loss of lives.

Bosses at the organisation later apologised, accepting that lives could have been saved if the emergency response had been different.

Sheffield Council

Issued Hillsborough with a safety certificate for the terraces with a recommended capacity of 10,100, but the inquest was told that figure was substantially too high.