Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

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Thirty-six years on from the UK's worst sporting disaster, a long-awaited report into police conduct during - and after - the 1989 Hillsborough Stadium disaster has been published.

Ninety-seven Liverpool fans were killed and hundreds more were injured during a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match - more on how the disaster unfolded here.

The report from the police watchdog - the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) - finally arrived today, and found there had been "fundamental failures" on the day, and "concerted efforts" to blame fans in the aftermath.

It also found that 12 police officers would have faced gross misconduct proceedings - but none will face sanctions, because of the law at the time. We've summarised some of the key findings here.

Responding to the report, relatives of some of those who died said they will "never get justice" for their loved ones. Many of the victims, one relative said, "were wrongfully blamed by the people who should have protected them".

We're ending our live coverage now. You can read more in our news story here.

After the Hillsborough disaster, West Midlands Police (WMP) was appointed to investigate the conduct of South Yorkshire Police.

Today's report identified two officers at WMP that it says would have had a case to answer over their roles in the investigation, including for "alleged bias towards police and against supporters" and "not intervening in South Yorkshire Police's account amendment process".

WMP has sent the BBC a statement in response to the report. It reads:

"We note the report released today by the IOPC.

The deaths of 97 people following the Hillsborough stadium disaster was a tragedy and our thoughts remain with the families and friends of the victims who must live everyday day with the loss of their loved ones."

Jonny Humphries
Reporting from Liverpool

The IOPC report has found repeated and extensive examples of senior officers attempting to deflect blame from the police.

It says: "Senior officers, working with the legal team, sought to advance a case that the disaster was caused by unprecedented and unforeseeable events, including the failings and actions of others, rather than as a result of any failings on the part of [South Yorkshire Police (SYP)] corporately or of individual officers."

The report notes how Ch Supt David Duckenfield had lied about fans forcing open Gate C - which massively increased the pressure inside the ground - when in fact he had given the order to open the gate himself.

He apologised for the lie while giving evidence to the second set of inquests in 2015.

Chief Constable Peter Wright did confirm that fans hadn't forced entry to the ground in a press conference the night of the disaster, but Duckenfield's comments were widely reported in newspapers the following day.

However the IOPC says despite the "immense damage and hurt" that the lie and the subsequent media coverage caused, it is not clear that either was the result of a "coordinated corporate attempt" to deflect blame from the police.

The report says: "The lie was told so quickly, there was no chance for SYP to organise it, and Chief Constable Wright corrected it on the night of the disaster.

"Aside from CC Wright, the central figures quoted in the media reporting did not act or speak on behalf of SYP.

"The IOPC has not found evidence to indicate that the ensuing coverage was a result of any organised effort by SYP or its legal team."

Earlier we reported on the 12 officers who the report says would have faced gross misconduct allegations, if the law at the time was different.

In the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)'s report, it says a 13th officer would have a case to answer for misconduct.

It says Supt Roger Greenwood, of South Yorkshire Police, would have faced one allegation around how he responded to events in Pens 3 and 4, and failing to organise and direct junior officers to help save lives.

Claire Hamilton
Merseyside political reporter, reporting from Warrington

Something that's really powerful - which was tough to read in the investigation - is for the first time the treatment of families in the immediate aftermath of the disaster has been investigated.

There were many complaints from survivors, from loved ones, about the way they were treated when they were forced to make that terrible journey into the makeshift mortuary - the gymnasium - where they were asked to identify their loved ones following the disaster.

And there was no one found to be in charge, no senior police officer in control of that terrible situation.

So, for the first time, those complaints have been investigated - and that really is an incredibly tough read for anyone who does go through the report.

Judith Moritz
Special correspondent, reporting from Warrington

Some families of victims say the report is a waste of time and money.

Although identified, the officers responsible are not facing any sanctions, as they have either retired or died since.

I have spent time with Hilda Hammond, whose teenage son died in Hillsborough. Her husband, Phil, was one of the leading campaigners for justice.

Phil waited years for answers to the complaints he made - and died before he could hear the outcome of them.

Hilda received the response to those complaints via post in July - two were upheld, one was not.

For these reasons, some families are questioning what the point of this report is.

In fact, some insiders tell me that they wish they could publish a far more extensive report than the 366 pages published today.

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The reaction:

• Bereaved families will "never know the full extent of South Yorkshire Police's deception", despite today's 366-page police watchdog report, the daughter of one victim says
• Charlotte Hennessy, whose father Jimmy was killed, says they will "never get justice", as no one will be imprisoned for their actions during, and following, the Hillsborough disaster
• Asked if she would meet the officers who the report says would face misconduct allegations, Sue Roberts says: "Of course we would"
• Looking ahead to the so-called Hillsborough Law making its way through Parliament, Margaret Aspinall hopes it is the "final hurdle" to bringing about positive change following the 1989 disaster

What the report said?

• Found twelve police officers would have faced gross misconduct cases over the Hillsborough disaster - though no sanctions will be brought because of the law at the time
• Among its key findings, the report says there was police complacency before the match, "fundamental failures" on the day of the disaster, and "concerted efforts" to blame fans - more in our summary here

The panel are asked if they would accept the opportunity to speak with the officers who the report says would face misconduct allegations.

"Of course we would," Sue Roberts replies. "We just want to right the wrongs of the past."

Steve Kelly recalls a time when a police officer made a complaint about him, and explains how he found it "cathartic" to be able to have a sit-down with the officer to talk through the event.

Charlotte Hennessy talks about her ongoing relationship with the police officer who found her father on the Hillsborough pitch, who she calls a "good man".

"We don't hate anybody," she emphasises. "It's the lies... It's the disrespect and the lack of honesty when you're talking about 97 people that died."

The press conference has now finished - we'll bring you a recap of the key lines shortly.

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The BBC's Rowan Bridge asks Charlotte Hennessy about complaints that weren't upheld - and why that was the case.

Hennessy says she made two complaints about the conduct of two officers over her father, Jimmy Hennessy, who died at Hilsborough.

She says they refused to engage or give any further information - even when she "quite literally begged".

Hennessy says she was denied this as the mental health of officers was "too poor" and "not stable enough".

She adds: "Nobody throughout this process has given a damn about my mental health and the impact that that has had on me."

Those two police officers were never informed of Charlotte's complaints, she says, to "preserve their mental wellbeing".

Jonny Humphries
Reporting from Liverpool

At the press conference, Charlotte Hennessy, whose father James was one of the 97 victims of the disaster, praises the IOPC report for highlighting the role played by former South Yorkshire Police Ch Supt Sir Norman Bettison - who later became chief of Merseyside Police.

The report concludes he would have faced two gross misconduct allegations - including for providing misleading press statements, and dishonesty over his role in the disaster when applying for that job at Merseyside Police.

The report concludes Bettison had attempted to downplay his role in South Yorkshire Police's response to Hillsborough - including failing to mention a presentation he gave to 12 MPs in Parliament in 1989 "giving the police side of the story".

Hennessy calls on Bettison to lose his knighthood and Queen's Policing Medal, saying families have emailed the forfeiture committee.

"He has stated on many occasions over the years that his role was peripheral, but this report has concluded he was right in the thick of it," she says.

"We families knew this from the moment he was appointed as Chief Constable of Merseyside. And despite protests and complaints, they were ignored."

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The family members are asked if they will now channel their energy into backing the Hillsborough Law, which is currently making its way through Parliament.

"You've got to see a good job through," Margaret Aspinall replies. "We won't be happy until this is all through."

She goes on to describe how the 97 killed have already led to changes in rules around seating at football games.

"So much good has been done out of the 97," she explains. "This will hopefully be the final hurdle."

Then maybe as families, she continues, we'll be able to have some peace.

The panel is asked whether today feels like it was their last chance to get justice for the 97 people killed at Hillsborough.

"We'll never get justice," Charlotte Hennessy responds. "Nobody's ever going to go to prison for killing them so we'll never get justice and we knew that."

Instead, she says today's report confirms survivors' testimony.

"This isn't new news," she explains.

We're now hearing questions from the room for the assembled panel of bereaved family members.

A Sky News reporter asks how upsetting it is to learn that 12 police officers would have had a case to answer for gross misconduct, but no action will be taken today.

• For context: The law at the time means no officers will face disciplinary proceedings because they had all retired before the probe began in 2012

Margaret Aspinall, the mother of 18-year-old James who was killed, says "it really makes you very, very angry".

She rejects the argument that today's report is a waste of money.

"It is going to change things for other people," she says, but adds that she accepts it won't change things for families affected by Hillsborough.

Steve Kelly, whose brother Michael died aged 38 at Hillsborough, says today's findings must make it clear that processes around police misconduct have to change.

"No one should be beaten by the passage of time," he explains. "We should have justice and accountability at least within a person's lifetime."

Sue Roberts's brother Graham died aged 24, and she says that although frustrated, she is happy that officers who committed misconduct have now been named.

Speaking now is Charlotte Hennessy, daughter of Jimmy Hennessy who was 29 years old when he died at Hillsborough.

She begins by acknowledging the victims, and the bravery of Liverpool supporters.

"They were wrongfully blamed by the people who should have protected them," she says.

Hennessy goes on to thank the IOPC for the report, saying it confirms what she says families and survivors knew all along, accusing match commander David Duckenfield of being "a liar".

• For context: Today's report said Duckenfield would have faced gross misconduct cases for 10 allegations around failing to adequately plan for the match, failing to respond to the unfolding disaster and lying about his order to open Gate C

"We reiterate today that we do not accept his apology," she says.

Hennessy adds that families "will never truly know full extent of South Yorkshire Police's deception", but there is no way to cover up that "they failed in their duties and sought to blame the victims".

At the press conference, lawyer Nicola Brook reiterates her earlier statement, emphasising that no one will be held to account for what happened, despite today's police watchdog report.

Brook says it has taken 36 years to reach today's conclusions - and years after a number of other inquests delivered their findings.

"The evidence that has allowed the IOPC to draw its conclusions has been there all that time," she says.

Brook continues, saying two of her clients have died while waiting for fresh inquests, and that some families never got to see the verdict of unlawful killing in 2016.

"They have all been denied the opportunity to hear these findings," she says. "They deserve better."

She finishes by calling on the government to extend the Hillsborough Law - which will force public bodies to cooperate fully with investigations or potentially face criminal sanctions - to IOPC investigations "without any caveats".

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We are expecting to hear shortly from family members of some of those who died in the Hillsborough disaster.

They'll be speaking at a press conference in Liverpool - you'll be able to follow along by pressing watch live at the top of the page.

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Here's a summary of six of the key findings from the IOPC's 366-page report:

• Twelve police officers would have faced gross misconduct hearings - but now won't because of the law at the time
• The report highlights complacency before the match, "fundamental failures" on the day of the disaster, and "concerted efforts" to blame fans. It also upholds or finds cases to answer for misconduct in 92 complaints about police action
• Former Ch Supt David Duckenfield, who was match commander on the day, would have faced 10 alleged breaches for "failures in decision making and communication in relation to managing the build-up to the game", as well as a "series of key failings of control as the crowd built"
• Former SYP chief constable Peter Wright would have faced a case over 10 alleged breaches of the Police Disciplinary Code regarding his actions in the aftermath of the disaster
• South Yorkshire Police (SYP) "fundamentally failed" in planning for the match and in its response - attempting to "deflect the blame" while dealing with traumatised supporters and families
• As part of this response, 327 statements from officers - 100 more than previously uncovered - were found to have been amended

Read more:Officers would have faced misconduct over Hillsborough disaster

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Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says today's report "serves as a stark reminder of one of the most significant failings in policing the country has ever seen".

She pays tribute the families and survivors of the disaster, saying: "They have faced years of mistreatment and delay, but thanks to their tireless campaigning we are introducing the Hillsborough Law which will place a legal duty of candour on public servants and authorities."

"There is also now legislation in place which means that police officers cannot evade misconduct proceedings by retiring or resigning, so these failings can never be repeated."

Roger Johnson
BBC North West Tonight presenter

Image source, Claire Hamilton/BBC

Ahead of the report's publication, IOPC deputy director-general Kathie Cashell said the victims, their families and survivors had been “repeatedly let down” by the "deep complacency" of South Yorkshire Police

This, she said, was in the force's preparation for the match, its response to the unfolding disaster, and its "concerted efforts" to deflect blame onto Liverpool supporters.

Since 2012, the IOPC investigation has cost around £80m, and some families of those who died at Hillsborough have questioned its value, considering no individual officers will face sanctions.

Asked about those comments, Cashell told the BBC: "Obviously, I'm very disappointed to hear that."

She said the investigation had supported the fresh inquests in 2016, which returned verdicts of unlawful killing.

"What I think is at the heart of all of this is the lack of candour at the outset and the defensive approach by, particularly, South Yorkshire Police to the inquiries that happened after the disaster," she said.

Cashell added: "That lack of candour at the time I think really shows what the impact can be when organisations prioritise defending their reputation over admitting mistakes and putting things right.

"It is wholly unsatisfactory that we all are, some 36 years later, still looking for answers."

The chief constable of South Yorkshire Police says she fully accepts the findings published in today's report.

"There is nothing I can say today which can take away the years of pain and hurt caused by the force I now lead," says Chief Constable Lauren Poultney.

"On behalf of South Yorkshire Police, I fully accept the IOPC report which highlights a litany of failures and am so deeply sorry for the pain and heartache caused," she says.

Poultney adds that the force "failed" those at the football match, "and also failed their loved ones in the days, months and years after."

"This will always be a point of deep regret and shame for South Yorkshire Police," she says.