Nanny is always telling us that the new laws that she keeps passing are designed for our own safety and protection.She is confident that we will eventually become used to the idea of animals receiving ASBO's, and uniformed civilians telling us what to do.
I don't know, you see the problem with this hypothesis is that it relies on the laws being sensible; and the officers of law enforcement applying them in a sensible manner.
Therefore, when you read a story like the one that I am going to relate to you, the hairs on the back of your neck begin to stand up.
I take you now on a journey to a communal garden centre, in a town far far away.
Er, Yarmouth actually!
There, brothers Stephen and Andy McSweeney (10 and 11 years old) were indulging in a spot of Star Wars with their light sabres.
This caused great alarm to the neighbours who, fearing an attack of the clones, decided to call 999.
The police duly turned up, flashing lights ablaze, and gave the youngsters a good talking to; they then issued them with "stop-and-account" notices.
Yes, that's right, a 10 and 11 year old were issued with "stop-and-account" notices for playing with light sabres.
Now this didn't go down too well with the boys' mother, Karen McSweeney, who feels that the police were a tad heavy-handed.
Mrs McSweeney said she thinks police may have been called to deal with older youths fighting in the street, which is plagued with rowdy teenage behaviour.
She believes the youths may have ridden off on mopeds before police arrived, and that officers only thought it was her sons because there was no one else about.
Police yesterday defended their action, stating that under legislation brought in this April they now have to issue stop-and-account notices each time they investigate criminal damage.
Now, you may well think that the police were justified in doing what they did; light sabres can be pretty fearsome weapons.
Maybe, you cry, Ken your over reacting!
I have of course left out one small piece of information about this little incident.
Namely, the size and condition of the light sabres.
They came from a box of Coco Pops, were made of flimsy plastic, and were no more than 6 inches in length.
You see, in this particular case, size really does matter!
The law can only work if people respect it.
Nanny is doing her level best to undermine people's respect for the law, and for those that have to enforce it.
"Nanny is doing her level best to undermine people's respect for the law, and for those that have to enforce it."
ReplyDeleteI have to say it's working.
TO be fair to the cop though it probably went a little like this:
ReplyDeleteCop says: "What you kids up to then?" (Just like he's been doing for umpteen years)
Then the PC training kicks in: "Damn! That was asking them to account for their actions. Ho-hum, better do a stop and account form!"
And he knows that if he doesn't and they complain it might cost him his job.
Don't blame the police. They were only doing what the law tells them to do.
I was really blaming Nanny for putting them in that position in the first place.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, a bit of common sense being shown would have saved this from arising in the first place.
You will find, that these toys are no more than three inches in length, and apparently glow in the dark.
ReplyDelete