The Metropolitan police have admitted that a 13-year-old boy playing with a water pistol was rammed off his bike by armed police, knocked to the ground and officers pointed their submachine guns at him.toy water gun.”
The Met has apologised for the incident, in which the boy was also handcuffed, which happened in broad daylight in Hackney, east London, in July.
The mother of the boy, who has not been named said she and her family had been left “broken” by the trauma and felt insulted by an officer who called her “aggressive” at the scene. One officer claimed her son had been lucky.
The Met accepts the boy, who is black, suffered trauma. His mother said his race led to his treatment by armed officers and brief arrest on suspicion of having a firearm.
The Met said it was called to a report of a gun in the street and was obliged under policy to treat all firearms as dangerous until proven otherwise. It said no misconduct issues had been identified.
The boy had been playing near his home with a blue plastic water pistol with his sister, who had a pink one.
At 3.45pm on Wednesday 9 July police say an officer “saw a male on a bicycle pointing what was believed to be a handgun at a young girl”. Armed officers were called, with two armed response vehicles attending the scene.
The Met said: “Specialist officers are trained on specific tactics including using vehicles to bring cyclists to a stop. This tactic was used in this case, causing the boy to fall off his bike.
“Firearms officers left the car and he was handcuffed and detained. It quickly became clear that he was not in possession of a firearm. He was de-arrested at the scene. In subsequent inquiries, his family confirmed he had earlier been playing with a
The child recalls seeing the red dots from the police firearms as the guns were pointed at him.scandal [where a black girl was strip-searched in school].
Once the armed officers had knocked him to the ground, a neighbour brought his mother, who protested to police.
The boy’s family want his identity protected, which they believe will increase his chances of recovery. His mother said: “It has been a deeply traumatic experience for him, for me, and for our family as a whole.
“The attitude of the police to him – and to me – is shown up in the words of the senior officer at the scene when I protested to him about the conduct of his officers: he told me I was lucky that they had not arrested my son.
“For what? For playing with a brightly coloured plastic water gun with his younger sibling on the streets behind our home? For being a black boy on the streets of Hackney?
“I know – and the police know – that they would not have treated my son in the way they did if he had been a white 13-year-old boy.
“I know that they would not have treated me with the contempt shown towards me or described me as ‘aggressive’ if I was not black.
“After what has happened, how can I ever tell [my children] that they can turn to the police for help? I feel broken by it all; distraught because I was not able to protect my child from what happened.”
DCS James Conway, who in charge of policing for Hackney, said: “This incident was understandably extremely distressing for the boy involved as well as the rest of his family.
“We know it may cause public concern and we want to help the public understand why we responded in the way we did. … I apologised soon afterwards to his family.”
Lee Jasper of the Alliance for Police Accountability said: “This case has huge implications and poses serious questions for the mayor and the London Policing Board, in addition for the Met Commissioner and Hackney, the borough that saw the Child Q
“Adultification of Black children continues to be an increasing aspect of systemic and institutionalised police racism.”any lessons from the incident.”
Conway said: “Support has been made available to the boy and his family through our partners. We have also agreed to a review of the safeguarding support offered, led by our independently chaired safeguarding children partnership, in order to learn
Raju Bhatt, a family solicitor, said the police watchdog had twice failed to investigate this case despite it twice being referred to them.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/19/met-rammed-boy-13-playing-with-water-pistol-off-bike-and-pointed-guns-at-him
QUOTE: “For what? For playing with a brightly coloured plastic water gun with his younger sibling on the streets behind our home?ENDS
Wasn't there a recent case where some idiot said that soaking people on a bike ride was just a harmless prank by a few young kids?
QUOTE: “For what? For playing with a brightly coloured plastic water gun with his younger sibling on the streets behind our home?ENDS
Wasn't there a recent case where some idiot said that soaking people on a bike ride was just a harmless prank by a few young kids?
On Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 4:15:22 PM UTC+1, Simon Mason wrote:which to target passersby in the spirit of the day. But one cyclist took umbrage.
QUOTE: “For what? For playing with a brightly coloured plastic water gun with his younger sibling on the streets behind our home?ENDS
Wasn't there a recent case where some idiot said that soaking people on a bike ride was just a harmless prank by a few young kids?
QUOTE: Speaking to Edinburgh Live, the mum explained that it was their first time joining the special day and it meant a lot being the 75th anniversary. They were enjoying themselves in the back of the cab, her son with a customary water pistol with
The mum said: "Unfortunately, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows when it comes to the public.
While travelling on the bridges, a cyclist was forced to come onto the pavement to let the taxis pass.
In the name of fun, as the day is all about, she got a little bit wet, she was furious and proceeded to hit the taxi and ram her bike into it. ENDS
LUCKY THEY WERE NOT SHOT, EH?
QUOTE:
"A CYCLIST has hit out at the "young cub" who threw water at him from a moving car, warning such behaviour could result in serious injury or worse.
Danny Browne, who is chairman of long-established racing group Lakeland Cycle Club, said he was out riding on Sunday morning on the Enniskillen to Irvinestown road when the car passed and the water was thrown on him. Police have confirmed they havecalled to and spoken with the motorist involved in the incident.
Speaking to the Herald, Danny said such incidents were sadly not uncommon, and were proving dangerous
"From the response I've got on Facebook, things like this seem to be happening quite often," he said. "I know that a lot of my friends get abused, shouted at and so on. Things like this have certainly happened others before, but they weren't quickenough to get a registration number." ENDS
Teenagers have been terrorising town with water pistols, firing at people including a three-week-old baby and attempting to rob a teenage girl.
It was reported on Facebook that a girl walking down Millgate ion Newark yesterday was targeted by a group of 15 to 16-year-olds.
The teenagers were said to have squirted the girl with water pistols and attempted to steal her bag, phone and sunglasses whilst filming her.
Her mother posted on Facebook: “ Luckily she managed to run away unhurt but how terrifying for her!
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“In the group some of them had swim vests on and there were a couple of girls in the group too. I’m so angry.
“Where are their parents, police don’t seem to be bothered either.”
Town and district councillor David Moore was also a victim, and said he was squirted by a girl and a boy around the age of 12.
“I saw the teenagers splashing water with those massive water pistols and I told them to stop,” he said.
“They asked me – What do you want? – And then they pointed at me and soaked me before running away.
“This anti-social behaviour has been reported, now we will have to leave the authorities deal with it.”
Additionally, it was reported that the teenagers aimed at a three-week-old baby in its pram near NatWest Bank in the Market Place around 12.20pm yesterday.
The cases have been reported to the police.
For most Londoners, the idea of a stranger stalking them at their home
and work, maybe while carrying a gun, is the ultimate nightmare. But as
of today, around 150 people in the city have volunteered to endure just
that - all in the name of fun.
For most Londoners, the idea of a stranger stalking them at their home and work, maybe while carrying a gun, is the ultimate nightmare. But as of today, around 150 people in the city have volunteered to endure just that - all in the name of fun.about possible terrorist attacks.
Police have warned players taking part in the first British version of 'Street Wars' - a role-playing game in which participants hunt down and "assassinate" targets while themselves being targeted by others - could spark panic in a city already jittery
In a stern statement, British transport police (BTP) labelled participants "irresponsible", saying the sight of someone brandishing a water pistol - the weapon of choice in Street Wars - could cause "genuine fear".
Officers tackling anti-social behaviour in Swale are reminding people around the safe use of high-powered water guns.behaviour was disruptive to trade.
Over the last month, neighbourhood officers have seen increased reports of incidents concerning water pistols.
On Thursday 22 June 2023, officers responded to the report of a group of teenagers using water guns to cause a nuisance at a bakery in Sittingbourne High Street. While the water caused no damage to staff, stock, or the property, the anti-social
In other instances, water pistols being used in the area have caused alarm and distress after being mistaken for viable weapons. This has prompted reports of firearm concerns to Kent Police. Subsequent investigations take up valuable time and resources,which could be afforded to incidents posing a real risk to the public.
Advicecausing alarm or upset to others. It is a criminal offence to cause public distress with imitation firearms, so water guns resembling viable weapons must only be used on private property and not in the public domain.‘If needs be, dispersal orders will
PS Ryan Chase, of the Swale Community Safety Unit, said:
‘We appreciate that the longer, hotter days and approaching summer holidays may see people engaging in water fights to cool off and have fun.‘Anyone choosing to use water guns should ensure that they are not intentionally, or unintentionally,
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