Chief constable of South Yorkshire Police David Crompton has issued a statement apologising to the families of the 96 Hillsborough victims.

Crompton also blasted the "disgraceful lies" that attempted to shift the blame to Liverpool supporters for the disaster.

The statement read: "On April 15, 1989, 96 of the Liverpool fans went to Hillsborough to watch the FA Cup semi-final and died as a result of the disaster. On that day South Yorkshire Police failed the victims and families. The police lost control. In the immediate aftermath senior officers sought to change the record of events. Disgraceful lies were told which blamed the Liverpool fans for the disaster.

"Statements were altered which sought to minimise police blame. These actions have caused untold pain and distress for over 23 years. I am profoundly sorry for the way the force failed on April 15, 1989 and I am doubly sorry for the injustice that followed and I apologise to the families of the 96 and Liverpool fans.

"South Yorkshire Police is a very different place in 2012 from what it was 23 years ago and we will be fully open and transparent in helping to find answers to the questions posed by the panel today."

The former editor of The Sun Kelvin MacKenzie has also released a statement apologising for the way that his newspaper dealt with the events.