West Midlands Police quizzed over Hillsborough Disaster

Rachel Cerfontyne, deputy commissioner of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), said investigators were analysing witness accounts and establishing the role of individual officers - including asking people about how much alcohol they had drunk.

West Midlands Police carried out the initial investigation into South Yorkshire Police's handing of the disaster, which left 96 people dead. The force is being investigated over claims it knew that statements it had been asked to review had been modified.

Ms Cerfontyne said: "This work is in its early stages, however, we have been able to indentify some initial themes such as questioning about alcohol consumption."

More than 1,700 people responded to a witness appeal into West Midlands Police's role in the aftermath of the Hillsborough Disaster, it has been revealed.

Ms Cerfontyne added: "The appeal was first launched to assist us with understanding how West Midlands Police gathered evidence as part of their investigation after the disaster. While we encouraged people who had given an account to West Midlands Police to come forward, we knew that the witness appeal would provide an opportunity for those who had never given any information to any inquiry to tell us about their experiences.

"We have received responses from 1,706 people. Of this number, we have taken further information from 910 people, with 681 spoken to over the phone and 229 interviewed with statements taken. A further two witness statements have been provided by families' legal representatives.

"We have written to 447 people to inform them that the information they provided is sufficient for now and investigators don't need anything further from them in relation to West Midlands Police. These will be kept under continual review and, as with all 1,706 responses."

New inquests into the disaster are taking place.