David Duckenfield and Norman Bettison have been charged with criminal offences over the Hillsborough disaster and its aftermath.

They are among six individuals charged following two major investigations that focused on the causes of the tragedy and the alleged cover-up that followed.

Public bodies such as South Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Ambulance service and Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are not among those facing charges.

Each of those charged will now appear in court - and could face trials - after the launch of legal proceedings against them.

Hillsborough charging decisions announced: updates and reaction

Just over 28 years after the disaster unfolded on the Leppings Lane terraces the families of the 96 Reds fans who died, survivors and campaigners were told of the charges in a private briefing by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Sue Hemming, head of the organisation’s special crime and counter-terrorism division, broke the news to those gathered at Parr Hall in Warrington at 11am.

In reaching the decisions, lawyers from the CPS have spent six months examining evidence against 23 suspects identified by the two criminal probes launched in 2012.

Those charged are:

· David Duckenfield, who was the Match Commander for South Yorkshire Police on the day of the disaster - he has been charged with the manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 men, women and children. The CPS said it was unable to charge him over the manslaughter of Anthony Bland, the 96th casualty, as he died almost four years later.

· Norman Bettison, a former officer with South Yorkshire Police and subsequently Chief Constable of Merseyside and West Yorkshire Police - he is charged with four offences of misconduct in public office relating to telling alleged lies about his involvement in the aftermath of Hillsborough and the culpability of fans.

· Peter Metcalf, the solicitor acting for the South Yorkshire Police during the Taylor Inquiry and the first inquests - he is charged with doing acts with intent to pervert the course of public justice relating to material changes made to witness statements.

· Former Chief Superintendent Donald Denton of South Yorkshire Police - he charged with perverting the course of public justice relating to material changes made to witness statements.

· Former Detective Chief Inspector Alan Foster of South Yorkshire Police - he charged with perverting the course of public justice relating to material changes made to witness statements.

· Graham Henry Mackrell, who was Sheffield Wednesday Football Club’s company secretary and safety officer at the time of the disaster in 1989 - he is charged with two offences under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 and one offence under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Each of the suspects will now be given court dates as criminal proceedings begin.

Any that plead not guilty to the allegations against them are likely to face a crown court trial.

The charges follow a complex process of investigations that followed the work of the Hillsborough Independent Panel, which concluded in 2012.

Operation Resolve probed the causes of the disaster and worked with the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) to look into the actions of South Yorkshire Police before, during and in the initial aftermath of the FA Cup semi-final.

The IPCC also examined the actions of SYP and West Midlands Police following the disaster.

Both inquiries ran alongside the new Hillsborough Inquests, which saw jurors rule the 96 victims were unlawfully killed and that Liverpool FC fans were not responsible for the tragedy.

Following today’s announcement Ms Hemming said: “Following our careful review of the evidence, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, I have decided that there is sufficient evidence to charge six individuals with criminal offences.

“Criminal proceedings have now commenced and the defendants have a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”