Former Hammonds partner Peter Metcalf, the lawyer who acted for the South Yorkshire Police in the wake of the 1989 Hillsborough football stadium disaster, has been charged with intent to pervert the course of public justice.

He is one of six individuals charged with criminal offences today (28 June) by the Crown Prosecution Service, including David Duckenfield, the match commander for South Yorkshire Police on the day of the disaster, and Donald Denton, the former chief superintendent of South Yorkshire Police.

In the wake of the disaster, Metcalf worked with a team of police officers managed by Denton.

A 2012 independent report into the disaster – which resulted in the deaths of 96 people – identified Metcalf as having recommended the 'review and alteration' of handwritten accounts by police officers in the wake of the tragedy.

He had acted for South Yorkshire Police during the 1989 inquiry into the disaster led by Lord Justice Taylor – which published its findings in 1990 – and the first inquests.

In its statement today, the CPS said: "Peter Metcalf, who was the solicitor acting for the South Yorkshire Police during the Taylor Inquiry and the first inquests, is charged with doing acts with intent to pervert the course of public justice relating to material changes made to witness statements."

The Taylor Inquiry resulted in significant changes to safety procedures at football grounds; however, the families of the victims have long campaigned for criminal charges to be brought.

The CPS statement continues: "Metcalf, an experienced solicitor, was instructed by Municipal Mutual Insurance to represent the interests of the force at the Taylor Inquiry and in any civil litigation that might result from the Hillsborough disaster. He reviewed the accounts provided by the officers and made suggestions for alterations, deletions and amendments…. for which there appears to be no justification."

Metcalf worked at legacy firm Hammonds Suddards until April 2000, when it merged with Midlands firm Edge Ellison to form Hammonds Suddards Edge, which at the time was one of the UK's largest law firms.

Hammonds sealed a transatlantic tie-up with US firm Squire Sanders & Dempsey in 2011, which was followed by the 2014 merger with Patton Boggs that created the firm now known as Squire Patton Boggs.

It is understood that Metcalf retired from practice in 2002.

In 2012, the Solicitors Regulation Authority launched an investigation into the conduct of solicitors involved in Hillsborough.

In a statement released today, the regulator said: "We are aware of the CPS's statement. We continue to work closely with other authorities involved in this matter. We will now await the conclusion of this case before deciding on appropriate action."