TWELVE police officers should have faced gross misconduct for “fundamental failures” during the Hillsborough disaster, the police watchdog said today.

An Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) report said they would also have faced disciplinary proceedings for “concerted efforts” to blame fans in the aftermath.

IOPC deputy director general Kathie Cashell said the victims, their families and survivors had been “repeatedly let down” as it also upheld or found cases to answer for misconduct in 92 complaints about police actions.

Investigators found South Yorkshire Police did attempt to deflect blame from the disaster away from the police, but Ms Cashell said they did not find evidence of an orchestrated cover-up to the evidence threshold which they would need to meet.

Nicola Brook, a solicitor at Broudie Jackson Canter acting for several bereaved families, said it was a “bitter injustice” that no-one would be held to account.

The law at the time means no officers will face disciplinary proceedings because they had all retired before investigations began.

She said: “This outcome may vindicate the bereaved families and survivors who have fought for decades to expose the truth — but it delivers no justice.

“Instead, it exposes a system that has allowed officers to simply walk away, retiring without scrutiny, sanction or consequence for failing to meet the standards the public has every right to expect.

“Yes, the law has now changed so this loophole cannot be used in future. But for those affected by this case, that is no consolation.

“They are left with yet another bitter injustice: the truth finally acknowledged, but accountability denied.”

Among those who would have had cases to answer for gross misconduct if they were still serving were South Yorkshire Police’s then-chief constable Peter Wright and match commander David Duckenfield, as well as Sir Norman Bettison, who went on to become chief constable of Merseyside Police.

Ninety-seven Liverpool supporters died at the FA Cup semi-final on April 15 1989, when police opened an exit gate to the ground to alleviate crowding outside and failed to direct supporters away from the tunnel leading to the central pens where the crush happened.

Investigations into the disaster by the IOPC and criminal probe Operation Resolve began in 2012, following the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report.