12 year old arrested

[Pixxie7]

Do you think the police acted appropriately given that they had a tip off that a boy was waving a gun around.

You have a very definite view of what this boy was doing. I wonder what you’re basing that on?

This gun might not have been legal, I don’t know, but there are hundreds of perfectly legal toys that look similar enough to this one that was reported as being a ‘real’ gun.

@CodexDevinchi

"I’d also be interested to know if his insta account has pictures of him posing with it"

Wow. Just wow. If that is not bias at play I don't know what is. Your true colours are really showing.

To all the other posters who are now critiquing the 12 year old boys "persona". Again, he is TWELVE. He probably is bored of having these conversations- not completely understanding the wider ramifications.

Christ. I think some of you would have just been happy if he was shot with no questions asked.

@AuntyPasta

And there was a time in the UK when an Irish accent, which the person who contacted the police about Harry Stanley described him as having, was considered a reason for being quick on the trigger. Prejudice still kills, whatever the reason.

This.

@AuntyPasta

I’m just thrilled they didn’t kill the child.

Well why would they?

I assume he didn't answer the soy holding the gun? So police followed correct procedure and arrested him on suspicion.

And quite frankly if your fucking idiotic enough to answer a day carrying something that looks very much like a handgun you can't really be surprised at any response that gets from the caller!

[quote EnoughAlready2020]@CodexDevinchi

"I’d also be interested to know if his insta account has pictures of him posing with it"

Wow. Just wow. If that is not bias at play I don't know what is. Your true colours are really showing.

To all the other posters who are now critiquing the 12 year old boys "persona". Again, he is TWELVE. He probably is bored of having these conversations- not completely understanding the wider ramifications.

Christ. I think some of you would have just been happy if he was shot with no questions asked.[/quote]
Well he needs to wise up and understand the wider ramifications pretty damn quick then doesn't he? 12 or not.

But with his mother it's very unlikely because she thinks the police should have risked their lives as it's perfectly normal for a 12yo to be downstairs alone very late at night with a very real looking handgun in his possession 🤦🏼‍♀️

Well said EnoughAlready2020. The undercurrent of racism in some of the posts on here is plain to see. Some of these posters should take a good look at themselves.

Put toy gun into Amazon and this sponsored result comes up.

This is a legal toy. It’s apparently also justification to raid someone’s home with armed police. If the second point is accepted, as a passer by might honestly mistake it as a ‘real gun’ why the fuck are they legal?

What is interesting is there is a poster who says they are an armed police officer which offers an excellent opportunity for her/him to answer questions about a scenario like this (which really isn’t uncommon).

However, I haven’t seen anyone respond to their post apart from a couple of people who have kindly thanked them for their service.

I suspect that’s because the police officers answers won’t fit some posters anti police agenda here.

That’s a good point Nicky.

@Gobbycop

Do the police have a process of reflecting on arrests of BAME people which allows them to discuss any potential racial element? If so, how does it work and if not, do you think it would be a good idea?

A 12 year old should be in bed, at that age they still have a bedtime set by an adult. Also checked on before the adults go to sleep. Who allows a 12 year old to be alone downstairs at that time?

The child then wouldn’t have been the first person to greet the police. BB guns are dangerous and should be banned, it’s got nothing to do with skin colour a gun was reported and the police took appropriate and safe action. Would you like to attend unarmed?

@Nicknacky

I suspect that’s because the police officers answers won’t fit some posters anti police agenda here

I suspect because anyone can say they’re anyone they want to be on an anonymous forum. That person has also been very light on detail / law.

@AuntyPasta

You have a very definite view of what this boy was doing. I wonder what you’re basing that on?

This gun might not have been legal, I don’t know, but there are hundreds of perfectly legal toys that look similar enough to this one that was reported as being a ‘real’ gun.

I don't have a definite view on what he was doing but I do find it hard to believe that he was just sitting on the sofa, late at night, with a replica gun just sitting on his lap - because that just makes no sense mainly because why would a passer by see something in the lap of someone sitting down? Why have the gun out unless you are doing something with it, either shooting things (not likely in the house) or playing around with it (more likely).

Exactly Nicky it's far easier to call those of us who think the police deserve to protect themselves where a firearm is suspected racist. Because that backs up their belief the police must be racist for not wanting to risk being shot.

Why anyone would want to be a police officer in 2020 is beyond me.

I watched the scenes in London if police turning up to street parties and being attacked. Even some MSM managed to make out that's the police fault for turning up in the first place.

So according to you Kattekitt it is unheard of for a 12 year old child to sneak downstairs in the night?

Cadent Oh I agree that anyone can say anything about who or what they are, it’s up to us reading it how much credibility we give to their posts.

But they haven’t been “light” on the law or details on their posts at all. No one has asked them anything.

@kattekitt

A 12 year old should be in bed, at that age they still have a bedtime set by an adult. Also checked on before the adults go to sleep. Who allows a 12 year old to be alone downstairs at that time?

The child then wouldn’t have been the first person to greet the police. BB guns are dangerous and should be banned, it’s got nothing to do with skin colour a gun was reported and the police took appropriate and safe action. Would you like to attend unarmed?

Quite apart from anything else I'd be scared as the mum that my twelve year old son was opening the front door to people at midnight while I was asleep in bed.

Nicky am I right in thinking you are a police officer?

If so - do you know the answer to the question I asked (after your v sensible prompting!)

Of course the police have to respond to a report of a gun. Of course they have to be armed. I’m sure they have different responses for different situations. There will be a review of what they did and why and whether it is in line with procedure. Of course they were cleared over shooting a man carrying a chair leg too ...

I haven't read the whole thread but I'm stunned at some replies. This is an area of London where children only a year or two older than 12 are killing each other. With guns and knives. Of course the police had to act on the report. Would you prefer they ignored it and left it to the ambulance service to deal with later? Better taken to a police station than hospital or the morgue.
The gun looks real. The police can't know in advance whether or not it's a replica.
Spare a thought for the vulnerable people living in these areas, the elderly, disabled, and families with young children, who can't afford to move away. There's a huge problem with gang violence and very often it's children killing other children.

Can someone please explain what was racist here?

A gun was reported, police attended. I've posted what they say on a website about any report of a gun will be treated seriously and if you waive something around that resembles a gun then be prepared to have a real gun pointed at you.

So, how was there a racist element involved?

SmileEachDay I sure am. For my sins!

I’m not aware of any systems which does what you are asking about, to be honest. Others forces may have systems but I can only speak for mine. At some level there will be statically analysis that will not doubt be done but not at operational level.

Swatting or malicious reporting of an armed individual at a specific address is very much a thing. It might be that this was a case of a good faith report but the next time your 12/13 year old has an argument online while gaming or falls out with a kid at school it could be your door the police are knocking on.

I watched the interview on C4 and felt for them, it must have been a terrifying experience. However the Mother then talks about the BB gun. A BB gun is not a toy, it can maim and it looks like a real gun.

Her son, although only 12, looked much older. When he spoke it was obvious he was a minor but if they hadn't said he was 12 I'd have put him at 17.

As the mother of a son, there is no way I'd have that in my house and if he brought it in without my knowledge I wouldn't blame someone for thinking it was real.

I’m not aware of any systems which does what you are asking about, to be honest

Do you think it would be a good idea? I just - I wonder how individual officers feel when presented with figures like the ones I posted upthread?

@AuntyPasta

Swatting or malicious reporting of an armed individual at a specific address is very much a thing. It might be that this was a case of a good faith report but the next time your 12/13 year old has an argument online while gaming or falls out with a kid at school it could be your door the police are knocking on.

Firstly, when I had twelve year olds it would have been me opening the door at midnight and not them.

Secondly, it was a malicious report was it? There was a replica/imitation gun there. The passer by didn't make it up. They reported truthfully what they had seen. I wouldn't know the difference between that gun and a real one. If I saw that I would assume it real.