A REVIEW panel looking at the response to the Manchester Arena attack is asking the region’s leaders to sign up for a charter inspired by the Hillsborough families.

The panel — chaired by Lord Bob Kerslake — has today published a progress report recommending that all public bodies adopt the ‘Charter for families bereaved through public tragedy’.

The charter asks organisations to commit to learning lessons from Hillsborough and its aftermath to ensure the perspective of bereaved families is not lost in any future disasters.

Lord Kerslake said: “Since the arena review got underway in September 2017, we have strived to put the bereaved families, the seriously injured and all those affected by the attack at the heart of the review and ensure their voices are heard by involving them in every step of the process and exploring events from their perspective.”

More than 170 people have participated in the review via the NSPCC, including many young people who were at the Ariana Grande concert on the night of the attack. The panel has also spoken to the emergency services and other agencies involved in the incident.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “When I commissioned this review I wanted first and foremost to make sure that the families of those killed and the seriously injured were at the heart of the process and as the progress report outlines, the panel have worked hard to give everyone the opportunity to have their voices heard in the most appropriate way – whether that be via face-to-face meetings or by sending their written accounts.

“I have had the opportunity myself to meet many of the families who lost loved ones and many of the injured and what they have said is that they want the final report to be honest in telling the story of what happened that night. Therefore I am reaffirming my commitment today to support Lord Kerslake in making sure the report is open and transparent.

“I have worked with families bereaved through public tragedy before and often what compounds their distress is a failure to get to the truth and I am determined that doesn’t happen here. That is why I am calling on all public bodies in Greater Manchester to provide their fullest cooperation to Lord Kerslake and the panel as it completes its review, and I would encourage every public body in the city region to sign up to the charter as proposed by the panel today.”