Jack Straw will make his statement on Monday afternoon

Straw May Reopen Hillsborough Inquiry

The tragedy occurred in April 1989. The Liverpool supporters were trampled and crushed at Sheffield Wednesday's ground as they waited for the FA Cup Semi-Final against Nottingham Forest. Many of their relatives argue that they died because of police incompetence.

Phil Hammond of the Hillsborough Family Support Group tells the BBC of his hopes for a new inquiry

Mr Straw is expected to explain his plans on Monday, after he meets with a support group for Hillsborough families. The chairman of the group, Trevor Hicks, said: "All we know is that Mr Straw is to make a statement on Monday and everything else is speculation. We've been pressing for several things, most of which is an inquiry to look at the fresh evidence. We are hoping that is what the announcement will be."

Fans try to escape the crush

A spokesman for South Yorkshire police said he was aware only that Mr Straw would make a statement at 3.30 on Monday afternoon. He added: "If there is going to be a fresh inquiry we will do everything we can to assist that inquiry, but at the moment we simply don't know what the announcement will be."

The Secretary of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, Phil Hammond - who lost his son Philip in the tragedy - said that the announcement was "brilliant news". But he warned that Mr Straw "can't kid us though, we want something from this. We know they can't run the whole inquiry again, but we would like them to look at the main points we have raised and whether we are right or wrong. Obviously, we think we are right."

Flowers were strewn over the Hillsborough pitch after the tragedy

Many of the victims relatives point to the key role played by the Liverpool writer, Jimmy McGovern, whose two hour film about the disaster was broadcast last December. Mr Hammond said: "Jimmy McGovern managed in two hours what we had been trying to achieve in seven years. After the programme was shown, we were finally able to get our backs off the wall and move forward with this."

A scene from Jimmy McGovern's groundbreaking film

The disaster happened after police decided to relieve crowd pressure outside the stadium by opening the gates and letting more fans into the Leppings Lane end of the stadium. People were then crushed against the fencing separating the terraces from the pitch.

Ann Williams, whose son died at Hillsborough, tells the BBC that vital evidence was suppressed

The crush was televised live. Thousands watched in horror as fans were trampled as they struggled to break free by getting onto the pitch.

Relatives say video evidence like this was suppressed

At the inquest, verdicts of accidental death were recorded. But the government's inquiry, headed by Lord Justice Taylor, concluded that the police were principally at fault. Afterwards, South Yorkshire police faced legal action from many of the injured and bereaved, some of whom claimed that vital evidence had been suppressed.

Liverpool Walton Labour MP Peter Kilfoyle said he hoped Mr Straw would announce a new inquiry into the disaster. "I have great confidence in Jack Straw and I am hopeful that what he does announce will meet the demands of natural justice, which is what the families have sought," he said.