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Hillsborough police officers 'proud' of their work South Yorkshire Police officers told they 'did a good job' after Hillsborough inquest verdicts
(about 2 hours later)
A group of retired South Yorkshire Police officers who served in the 1980s have reportedly been told they "did a good job" as the force faces criticism in the wake of the Hillsborough inquests. South Yorkshire Police officers who served in the 1980s have been told they “did a good job” in the wake of the Hillsborough inquests’ damning verdicts.
The former officers were told they had tried to act with dignity while "bile and hatred" had been directed towards the force, which faced "immense challenges" in the 1980s, it is understood. An online message to retired officers, which has since been removed, acknowledged that “mistakes were made” but said they should be proud of the way the miners’ dispute and Yorkshire Ripper cases were handled.
It comes after South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable David Crompton was suspended on Wednesday amid an outcry over the handling of the inquest and the police's response. It came after a jury found the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster were unlawfully killed, listing a catalogue of police failings that could result in criminal charges.
The message from Rick Naylor, secretary of the South Yorkshire National Association of Retired Police Officers, appeared on the organisation's website although it was not intended to be made public, according to the BBC. David Crompton, the current Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, was suspended on Wednesday amid continued anger over disproven claims Liverpool fans were to blame for the deaths.
A jury found at the conclusion of a two-year inquest on Tuesday that the 96 victims of the Sheffield stadium disaster in 1989 were unlawfully killed and Mr Naylor said former officers had "great sympathy" for the families. Rick Naylor, of the South Yorkshire National Association of Retired Police Officers (Narpo), wrote a message to colleagues titled “It was a bad day” as the furore continued.
However he said members would be feeling "sore, angry and disheartened" by the criticism and highlighted the force's success in catching the Yorkshire Ripper. “Mistakes were made and we would all like to turn the clock back,” it said, according to the BBC.
"You did a good job - we all did," he added. Mr Naylor said that despite the failings found by the inquests, “there were many examples of outstanding actions and selflessness by police officers on that tragic day as they did their best to deal with the disaster unfolding before them”.
The message, which has since been removed, said: "Mistakes were made and we would all like to turn the clock back." He added that the group tried to remain dignified while “bile and hatred” was directed towards the force, which faced “immense challenges” in the 1980s.
It added: "There were many examples of outstanding actions and selflessness by police officers on that tragic day as they did their best to deal with the disaster unfolding before them." “You will be feeling sore, angry and disheartened, but you did a good job - we all did,” the statement said.
Mr Naylor said the comments were not meant to offend. The message was intended to be internal and was made public by accident, the BBC reported. Mr Naylor said the comments were not meant to offend.
A second statement co-signed by the group's chairman, Mick Brookfield, said the group were going through a "difficult and stressful period". It has since been replaced by a statement co-signed by Mr Naylor and Mick Brookfield, who are secretary and chairman of the association’s welfare group respectively.
It said: "Retired officers from South Yorkshire Police have always had great sympathy It said retired South Yorkshire Police officers “have always had great sympathy” for the families and friends of Hillsborough victims and had co-operated with the two-year inquests, an ongoing criminal investigation and probe by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
for the grief of the families and friends of the 96 who so tragically lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster. Today, as always, our thoughts are with them. We sincerely hope that they have gained some comfort from the Inquests. “We are proud of the manner in which our members have volunteered to assist with the process, many are now elderly and in failing health,” Mr Naylor and Mr Brookfield said.
"We are proud of the manner in which our members have volunteered to assist with the process. Many are now elderly and in failing health; without their co-operation the proceedings would not have been possible." “Without their cooperation the proceedings would not have been possible.”
Press Association The statement said around  200 retired officers had travelled from around the UK to give evidence at the inquests in Warrington on a “completely voluntary basis”.
“As heard during the inquest there were many examples of outstanding actions and selflessness by police officers on that tragic day as they did their best to deal with the disaster unfolding before them,” it added.
South Yorkshire Narpo’s welfare group was set up to support officers who attended Hillsborough through the “difficult and stressful” period.
The force came under fire in the House of Commons on Wednesday, with criticism led by Andy Burnham, who accused the force of “protecting itself above protecting people”.
The shadow Home Secretary echoed calls made by the victims’ families for the Chief Constable's resignation, saying relatives had been put “through hell again” during the longest jury case in British legal history.
He said millions of pounds of public money had been used to continue a “cover-up” and retell “discredited lies against Liverpool supporters”.
Home Secretary Theresa May raised concerns over South Yorkshire Police's response to the jury's findings and praised the victims' relatives for their “steel and determination”.
The force said it had not sought to defend its failures in the inquest, but added: “Nevertheless, these failures had to be put into the context of other contributory factors.”
The criminal investigation into the Hillsborough disaster, Operation Resolve, is expected to finish by the end of the year, when the Crown Prosecution Service will consider bringing charges.
In a separate probe into the aftermath of the deaths, the IPCC is investigating allegations that police fed the media false stories blaming fans, changed official accounts and put campaigners under surveillance in its “biggest and most complex investigation ever”. 
Additional reporting by PA