Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Tough on crime tough on the causes of crime...

Policeman threatens to arrest boy for toy gun


Last Updated: 2:30am BST 09/10/2007

A policeman was criticised yesterday after he ordered an eight-year-old boy to smash up his toy gun – because it was an "imitation firearm".

The officer confronted Samuel England, of Pinehurst, Swindon, Wilts, as he played with the black and orange plastic toy outside his home. He told the boy to destroy the "weapon" or he would be arrested.

Samuel's stepfather, John Standen, 34, came to his aid but was warned it was an offence to have an imitation firearm in public.

The officer only left when Mr Standen had snapped the toy in half – leaving Samuel in tears. But he returned five minutes later to warn his stepsister Sophie, six, about riding her battery-powered Barbie car on the pavement.

Samuel's mother, Sarah, 30, said: "Samuel was so scared that he would be taken away. I had to explain to him that they can't do that."

Wiltshire Constabulary confirmed the incident took place, but refused to name the officer involved.

4 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:02 AM

    If teenager can shoot a child in a car park. Something allowed his mind to want to do that. If the influence of toy guns was the reason I would be very surprised.

    Some people think that thay know the cause for everything. They are the do-gooders!!

    Kids need to play and whilst we have war in Iraq on the news, terror and bloodshed in Burma, shootings and gang warfare the view that a toy could be a cause of crime is laughable.

    What next? Should Tom and Jerry be banned?

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  2. Anonymous11:30 AM

    Ho hum, plod flexing his muscles - kids are an easy target I suppose.

    Obviously a pathetically inadequate personality needing an ego boost hiding behind that uniform!

    Makes you wonder what they actually look for during selection, perhaps inadequate megalomaniacs are what the tests are profiled for.

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  3. Anonymous11:34 AM

    Stupid ignorant fekkin plod. Can't solve a real crime or catch real criminals so it picks on kiddies with toys.

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  4. Anonymous11:43 AM

    What a dickhead! It makes you wonder what some of the police do all day?

    They target the nice areas (No crime) No go in the tough areas (No crime)

    NO CRIME at last. What a good policy by the plod.

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