Adolescence Tv programme - question re: first scene with the police

[DramaLlamaLana]

Hello, I have a 13-year old son and I’m only 15 mins in!

can someone please explain why the parents arent allowed in the police car as the responsible adult? I thought it was always innocent until proven guilty. The boy wet himself for goodness sake

I wouldn't worry about it too much, it isn't representative of real life. Just wait until you get to episode 2.

They had an appropriate adult in the car pre arranged. It was the social worker.

This. They did explain that.

OMG they just stripped searched a 13-year old

Yes, but that’s not what I asked 🤣

My question wasn’t “why didn’t he get an appropriate adult”.

My question wasn’t “why was one of the PARENTS not the appropriate adult”

So to be clear: why was he given a social worker in the car and not his parents? And would this happen in real life?

I work in police custody and its not always appropriate to have a parent as AA. Sometimes the parents may be involved and we have to put the child "incommunicado". It's actually rare for us you have a parent but then alot of our children are in care so......

Was he being taken in accused of murder? Perhaps discussing with or being told what to say by the parent would affect the questioning. A SW would report anything spoken about to the police. A parent might lie.

And we would absolutely strip search anyone over age of 10 years with the AA. It would be done very discreetly. Maybe get the Nurse present if possible.....

Well armed police wouldn’t be going to arrest a 13yo with no prior convictions or concerns about guns either so not sure it was the post true to real life policing ever.

This happens or at least certainly used to happen in residential settings for children as routine. I went to a ‘specialist boarding school’ (boarding school for wayward rich kids) and everyone was strip searched on arrival. Literally the bend over and cough test. And then periodically if they were looking for something or just as a means of control. Youngest there was maybe 11/12. Not surprising they do it in police custody. It is partly for the child’s safety, so that they can’t carry in anything to self harm with.

If watching with your son I’d focus less on the exact ins and outs of whether it’s realistic police procedure and on the real issue….🥴

The parents might also be witnesses at some point. And they won't want them cross referencing their stories.

am not watching with son. I am watching in for the drama not for education. Just curious re events about what is true to life and not.

Thanks for the info about armed response being unusual and also that social worker as AA possibly due to parents being in on it - that makes sense.

The dad ends up being the AA, but I think they have to separate them first incase they know anything about the crime. There is a bit where the detective explains to the dad he can't be the AA if Jamie had told him anything.