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Disgraced South Yorkshire Police asked Twitter followers if they wanted to say thank you to the force - and this is the response they got.

The force’s official Twitter account posted a message on Sunday night which said: “Want to ‘say thanks’ for service you’ve received from us? Now you can at reportingcrime.uk.”

But the suggestion didn’t go down that well.

Many Twitter users referenced the stance of the legal representatives acting for force’s chief constable at the Hillsborough inquests.

Charlotte Hennessy, whose dad James died in the disaster , replied to the tweet saying: “Ok - thank you very much for contributing to the prolonging of the inquests and supporting your processors lies.”

Paul Robinson, whose brother Steven was one of the 96 killed in the tragedy, wrote: “Thanks for your ‘non-adversarial’ approach to the Hillsborough inquests, making them the longest inquests in our country’s history.”

Will Duckworth wrote: “Hey @syptweet... I believe your account has been hacked.”

He added: “It may take me 25 years to say thanks... and then retract it and attack you for two more years. #jft96”

Watch: David Crompton suspended

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Twitter user Powellinho wrote: “Any chance of thanks giving the Hillsborough families for their patience through your ineptitude for twenty seven years??”

Ukurrie said: “Thanks for spending millions of taxpayer money to defend what you knew was a lie. Despite promising you wouldn’t. #JFT96

The force was also criticised for its investigation of Sir Cliff Richard, who was last week told he would face no further action after a two-year investigation into allegations of sexual abuse.

Wendy Michallat wrote: “THANKS for the 3m wasted defending yr CC at Hillsborough inquiry & THANKS for 1m wasted on aborted Cliff inquiry!”

Dismissal proceedings against South Yorkshire Police chief constable David Crompton are currently underway after he was suspended following the inquests into the 96 deaths.

Last week the force announced the top choice to replace him was former Merseyside officer Stephen Watson.