Hillsborough

[dorsetgirl]

I wanted to post this yesterday, but wasn’t able to get enough private time on the computer.

 

 

Title: Hillsborough

Author: DorsetGirl

Fandom: Life on Mars

Disclaimer: I don’t own these characters or their universe. BBC/Kudos do. I’m not making any money out of this.

Rating: White Cortina, Gen

Word Count: 289

 

A/N: The first time I saw Sam Tyler’s impassioned Hillsborough speech to Pete Bond, it struck me that Sam could have been there; at the very least, as a football fan and a policeman, he would have felt very personally involved. I have often thought of writing about that day from Sam’s point of view, but wasn’t sure - still am not sure - that it’s an appropriate subject for a fic. For that reason I’m not posting it to lifein1973.

 

Yesterday I read personal memories of the day from Ian Wylie and from James Watson in The Independent, and after that it just had to be written. I make no pretence of being a football fan myself, and I have no idea what I was doing that day, but I do know the tragedy will never, and should never, be forgotten.

 

 

 

 

Hillsborough

 

Something terrible happened today. Something that should never have happened, and must never happen again.

 

It’s barely twelve months I’ve been in the force but I’ve learned enough to know how not  to do it. For example, you don’t police by looking the other way while people are calling for help. You don’t police by standing chatting when there are people who need you. You police by being aware, all the time, of the responsibility you have to the people around you, the people relying on you, the people you will never meet and never know but who need you to keep them safe.

 

Before today, I looked up to them, the senior officers - the Inspectors, the Superintendents; the brass. I thought that being a Superintendent meant that you were the best; that you knew what to do, that you would always know what to do. And that you would do it, to the best of your ability, come what may. But now I know different and I - I wish I didn’t.

 

Today, we were dragging out bodies, and they wouldn’t let the ambulances through: they said there was rioting. There was no rioting, just people crying, people dying, who could have been saved if we’d done the right thing. It was our fault.

 

Today I am ashamed to be a police officer, and I make a vow:

 

Never again, as long as I live, will I stand by and assume that senior officers know better than I do what has to be done. I will fight lazy, corrupt and complacent policing wherever I find it, and I will do my best to make a difference in this world, wherever and whenever I can.

This I promise.

 

Comments

[samueljames]

This brought a few tears to my eyes and I imagine how Sam would be angry and disappointed in his superiors.

You said you weren't sure about this being fanfic material and it certainly isn't a topic I've seen in a story before but you haven't been disrespectful to any of the families who have lost someone. You've just used a fictional character to point out the real failings of the police on that day.

[dorsetgirl.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reading, and for the reassurance. I appreciate that.