FAMILIES of the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster last night welcomed moves by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith which brought the release of secret police files a huge step closer.

But Hillsborough Family Support Group president Trevor Hicks said they would be seeking assurances any documents had not been “sanitised”.

In a significant new step, Jacqui Smith urged South Yorkshire Police to release key files a decade before the usual 30 years.

The Home Secretary is soon to meet the Attorney General, the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Media, Culture and Sport to make information available “as soon as possible'” that could “shed light on the disaster and its aftermath.”

Mr Hicks described the move as “a little late, but welcome.” The father, who lost his two teenage daughters Vicki, 15 and Sarah, 19, on the Leppings Lane terrace, said he would be seeking personal assurances that files had not been altered, a long-held suspicion by the families.

If they are released, the families are set to request a period of time to examine them before they are made available to everyone.

Mr Hicks added that, if any wrongdoing was uncovered, it should be dealt with appropriately, highlighting that the changing of a police statement was akin to a charge of perverting the course of justice.

The Daily Post can confirm Mrs Smith has NOT met with South Yorkshire Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes as some reports yesterday suggested.

The decision on whether to release documents ultimately remains with South Yorkshire Police, but a call from the Home Secretary places considerable pressure on the force to accede.

A Whitehall source said: "It is still up to the police if they will make the documents public, but this message from Jacqui Smith carries a lot of weight."