Hillsborough investigators examine Wolves v Spurs 1981 crush

Officers have pored through video footage that shows fans scrambling over fences to avoid a crush in the Leppings Lane stand – eight years before the tragedy. Thirty-eight fans were injured in the incident.

Assistant Commissioner Jon Stoddart, head of Operation Resolve, confirmed the '81 semi-final was part of his investigation.

He said: "The Wolves game in 1981 is one we have looked at, as well as matches in '87, '88, and '89."

Investigators are looking at the planning and decision-making that went into the ground's design, engineering, alterations and final layout.

This includes the condition and adequacy of the turnstiles, the siting of barriers and 'pen design'.

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Additionally, the Independent Police Complaints Commission is looking at how South Yorkshire Police handled previous matches at Hillsborough, including the Wolves-Spurs game.

Mr Stoddart said: "The remit of my investigation is to prove or disprove if 96 people were unlawfully killed. Furthermore, my inquiry is to establish whether any individual or organisation are criminally liable for their role in the disaster.

"And it includes the following areas: stadium safety, planning and preparation before the game, response of emergency services, and movements of the deceased. We have looked at 18,000 images and 25,000 man hours viewing moving footage."

Operation Resolve investigators also developed a 3D model of the stadium at the time of the disaster.

Mr Stoddart added: "Now the inquest has closed my priority is to complete the criminal inquiry. We are investigating a number of individuals and organisations in relation to these offences and my team has been following over 16,000 lines of inquiry.

"It is my duty to thoroughly investigate all of these lines of inquiry and to provide CPS with the best possible evidence and the strongest case possible for them to make their decision independent of me."

A seven-minute clip of footage from the match was shown to jurors showing Spurs fans spilling on to the side of the pitch, with hundreds fleeing the terrace.

The inquest in Warrington heard that the 1981 crush arose within a few minutes of the match – attended by 50,174 – kicking off.

Four minutes in, Spurs scored in front of the Wolves supporters at the opposite end of the ground, which caused the Spurs fans to surge forward.

Footage showed fans climbing the perimeter fence, while one shot showed a St John Ambulance worker carrying a stretcher to assist an injured fan.

Referee Clive Thomas could be seen speaking to officials about overcrowding nine minutes into the game.