17 year old detained by bouncers

[Perfectpeonies]

Looking for advice for anyone that knows the law in this area (I know that there is a legal topic but I’m looking for quick answers)

they have just called me and I have the following information

• they are in a nightclub and have been drinking
• they have a can of spray paint
• they are being detained by bouncers whilst they wait for the police on the basis of criminal damage
• they are on their own as their friends have left

It just adds a post to the end of the thread. I think the same button is just called "Add Post" on the desktop site, which makes far more sense.

There's a thread in Site stuff trying to get it changed, as it trips loads of people up.

Teens have snuck into clubs forever and the last place my focus would be on would be complaining to the club.

You have now learnt your son is too immature to be going to these places. He is either a trouble maker, easily led, or stupid (who carries spray paint in a club?) and at risk of getting into serious trouble or a police record.

Parenting teens is hard but it is also the time they do need you most , I would be mortified bouncers and stretched police resources had to deal with my child and would be thinking very carefully how to approach. Probably not a bollocking as that gets you nowhere , but a long 1-1 (uninterupted) discussion ensuring he knew how disappointed I was, embarrassed, and let him talk too to reflect with you what happened and what could have went wrong. Dont let him off the hook until he understands. He has a lot of growing up to do before he goes clubbing again.

Meh, I couldn't get too worked up over the underage drinking. Most of us have done it, albeit before IDs really became a thing. I'm surprised the club isn't hotter on checking though. I often go out with my teen or younger people and they're always stopped at the door without fail. I'd be more concerned about his shitty choice of friends and the fact they seem to think damaging public property is fun and acceptable.

For future reference, you need to use "quote" (under the three dots) not "reply". The reply feature doesn't work well.

Whaaaaat? Are you joking or being serious? Thats utterly horrendous if so

He won't be the first 17 year old in a club, I'm sure many of us here have been in clubs much younger, but why did he have a can of spray paint? That bit would concern me.

I'm surprised that everyone's just assumed that 'bouncers' have the right to detain someone against their wishes. They don't.

Unless they're also an off-duty Special Constable (which some are) the only right they have is the right of 'Citizen's Arrest', which can only be used if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that an indictable offence has been committed.

Under-age drinking isn't an indictable offence.
Carrying a can of spray paint isn't an indictable offence.
Criminal damage isn't an indictable offence unless the value of the damage is over £5,000.

Unless the bouncer who did the 'detaining' was a Special Constable then they've committed an offence themselves.

The club is likely to be in trouble with the police over unmanned exits and serving underage teens.

They kept a drunk, small underage child who had been abandoned by his mates from going out alone into the cold after midnight, therefore protecting him from possible harm, until his Mum could collect him.

You aren't going to get them prosecuted for that.

Bouncers do special training courses usually and can hold Sinai w just as a security guard in a supermarket can till the police arrive

If he didn't cause any damage he'll be fine

Even if he did he'll be fine

Someone

No, they do courses but they don't have any special powers of detention - exactly the same as security guards in supermarkets.

Read the OP. He wasn't detained for his own protection: "they are being detained by bouncers whilst they wait for the police on the basis of criminal damage"

That isn't a legal cause for detention, unless they've got reasonable grounds to believe he did it and the value of the damage is over £5,000.

What club has unstaffed entrances?! They should lose their license for that. Crazy

This is absolute bullshit.

I’m not talking about being a bad influence. His friends left him there. That’s not what friends do

He's in the wrong on multiple accounts.I'm sure they'd have let you come and sit whilst waiting for the police if you were able
He needs to learn about right and wrong as it's clearly not sunk in yet.
Hopefully this has given him a shake up and he'll behave and not do this type of behaviour moving on
Good luck but do t be a softie

They kept a drunk, small underage child who had been abandoned by his mates from going out alone into the cold after midnight,

You are aware he is 17, not 7?

Still a child legally and specifically in the context of his location. That's why he shouldn't have been in there drinking in the first place - and he doesn't even have the usual MN six foot two rugby playing physique.

He was a pissed up, scrawny little kid that would have been at significant risk had the bouncers just kicked him out onto the pavement and told him to fuck off home to his Mum after midnight and in mid November. He was therefore a lot safer being kept by them for collection (whether by Mum or the Police) than left to find his way to a bus stop or walking back alone.

Thank you!

This is really interesting answers exactly my question so thank you

It wasn’t after midnight and his mates abandoned during the ‘detainment’

@NeverDropYourMooncup

Of course still a child but 'small underage child' was a bit of an OTT description of a 17 year old.

Im struggling to think of any club where there are unmanned entrances whereby boys can enter without being seen, or without paying to get in. Was it a youth club???

Serious unfortunately @PabloandGustheGreySquirrels

Sorry OP, but why are there bouncers there if your DS got in thru an unmanned door? I know you said you need to direct your energy on him atm, but I think I'd be saying something to licensing as well