SIX people have been charged with criminal offences relating to the deaths of 96 people in the Hillsborough disaster, which included Bromsgrove man Andrew Brookes. 

Mr Brookes was one of 96 who died, at the age of 26, at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on April 15, 1989.

His sister Louise, who has campaigned for justice ever since, visited Warrington this morning (Wednesday, June 28) to await a Crown Prosecution Service decision.

The incident had been reviewed after jurors at fresh inquests into the tragedy concluded last year that the fans had been unlawfully killed.

Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield and former chief constable Sir Norman Bettison are among those who have today been charged, the CPS has said.

Sue Hemming, head of the special crime and counter-terrorism division, said Duckenfield has been charged with the manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 of the 96 people who died.

Bettison is accused of four counts of misconduct in public office.

Former South Yorkshire Police officers Donald Denton and Alan Foster, as well as force solicitor Peter Metcalf, are charged with doing acts with intent to pervert the course of justice.

Former Sheffield Wednesday secretary Graham Mackrell is charged with three offences relating to health and safety and safety at sports grounds.

Ms Hemming said a further file from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) on the conduct of West Midlands Police still needs "additional investigative work".

She added: "Additionally, just this week, the IPCC has referred two further suspects which are unconnected to the matters sent to us in January.

"These subjects are subject to ongoing consideration by the CPS. We will announce our decisions in due course.

"The suspects referred to the CPS included individuals and organisations.

"Following these thorough investigations and our careful review of the evidence in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, I have decided there is sufficient evidence to charge six individuals with criminal offences."

All the defendants, except Duckenfield, will appear at Warrington Magistrates' Court on August 8.

IPCC deputy chairman Rachel Cerfontyne added: “The CPS has announced charging decisions on six of the eight suspects formally referred by the IPCC in January this year. We have also referred a further two individuals.”