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’10/99′

Mike Bartram

Wednesday, November 7th, 2012

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 A ‘10/99’ was a code no copper ever wanted to hear.
But that’s what came through the radio loud and clear.
A whole career could be spent without hearing that call.
10/99, a time for positive action, no time to panic or stall.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 It was an huge emergency to deal with, unique to some.
A time to pull and work together for ego’s to be undone.
Receiving a 10/99 meant the future for some stood still.
Wary of crowds forever, because crowds we know can kill.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 Mistakes were being made; some coppers not up to scratch.
Lies were being tossed in the air, left for the press to catch.
Officers in charge left wanting, those with impressive braid.
Senior cops at fault couldn’t admit to the errors they made.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 No emergency plan was implemented, just a neglect of care.
Murray and Duckenfield were both clearly caught unaware.
No match experience to call on, no leadership skills on show.
The misjudgement that they made, led them to sink so low.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 A 10/99 code meant a disaster was unfolding on a huge scale.
Fans rose to the challenge while the authorities could only fail.
Honest and fair accounts were written of what went on before.
But officers soon learnt those statements they had to withdraw.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 Officer’s statements had been altered without their say so at all.
The Policemen at the top knew their backs were against the wall.
Lower ranked police officers were being targeted to carry the can.
All honesty and fair play were being dismissed, all part of the plan.

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 Some cops that day were good cops, decent through and through.
And ‘Hillsborough’ affected them, just like it affected me and you.
Truthful accounts by PC McLoughlin are now seeing the light of day.
But such statements were kept from us, to keep that truth at bay.

Notes

Written for the likes of PC Martin McLoughlin who did their best that day and told the truth about exactly what they witnessed.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/1099/