Daily news bulletin: #HillsboroughLawNow event, plea from public health boss

Bereaved families, former prime ministers and a host of high-profile public figures have come together for a 'Hillsborough Law Now' event broadcast live on Facebook.

This comes after the powerful ITV drama "Anne", which tells the story of Anne Williams' fight for justice for her son Kevin.

Liverpool Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said: "What happened at Hillsborough in 1989 and the cover-up that followed is a national disgrace. It is a testament to the courage and determination of the families and campaigners that the truth was finally uncovered after decades of battling against the might of the state. That cannot be allowed to happen again.

"The story of Hillsborough is not an outlier. There are countless other injustices that follow the same pattern. It is time that we broke that cycle and put integrity back at the heart of our justice system."

Plea from Public Health Director

With confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Liverpool the highest they have ever been, the city’s director of public health, Matt Ashton has said: "It is clear that the Omicron wave is well and truly upon us in the North West, following the experiences of London and the South East.

“Lots of people are off work sick, causing disruption services and the wider economy, and hospitalisations have jumped in the last week. Deaths will sadly follow.

“This wave will be over quicker than previous waves, and although it's a milder variant, it would be naive to assume it still isn't going to leave a trail of destruction in its path.

“This destruction will be greater in more deprived communities. It takes a community to manage a pandemic, and we are all desperate to avoid future harmful lockdowns – so in the meantime, get vaccinated, get tested, be 'COVID wise' and be kind."

Quarter of Knowsley residents unvaccinated

A quarter of residents in Knowsley eligible for the coronavirus vaccine have not yet had their first dose as cases soar in the borough.

Over 3,600 cases were reported in one week alone between December 24 and December 30, more than twice the previous week's number.