To be expecting more from the police than this?

[Whatshouldhappenhere]

I did start a thread over in chat a few days ago and received some helpful responses but I’m just looking for some general advice about the police/legal system in general and hoping someone can help. Also wondering whether I’m expecting too much.

Background is: 12 yo DS was attacked on his way home from school last week by a boy he recognised from school but had never interacted with before and didn’t even know his name. DS overtook three boys from his year at school, one boy pulled his airpod from his ear as he walked past so DS snatched it back, shouted at them and ran away. After a short while, DS realised they weren’t chasing so stopped running but this boy then decided to start chasing, caught up with DS and punched him 4-5 times in the face. A woman who lived on the street intervened so the boy stopped and ran away (who knows how long the attack would have gone on for had she not intervened).

My first port of call was the school as soon as I found out, they said the student liaison officer would phone me back. Then I called 101 who took all of the details, gave me a crime number and said an officer would visit to take a statement. The SLO found out the boy who attacked DS was expelled before Christmas so the school had no jurisdiction and couldn’t act. He found the other two boys and had a chat with them but that’s the end of school involvement. The assistant head spoke to me on the phone last Thursday and promised he would have a chat with DS on Friday morning but never did. I believe this was simply damage control more than anything, he was acting like my best friend throughout the chat but didn’t follow through with the promise to chat to DS so I’m fairly disappointed although I do understand why the school can do very little else.

A police officer visited on Saturday. I thought he would sit and take a lengthy statement and be here a while but he was here for 5 minutes. He simply asked DS what happened and told me he would go talk to the boy and his parents now. I asked why it wouldn’t be taken any further and he said they don’t like putting children through the legal system over what was probably a heat of the moment thing. He said he’s sure I wouldn’t want DS’s life potentially ruined if he did something like this so I said DS wouldn’t do something like this though whereas this boy has and he’s already been expelled from school.

Basically police stance was they don’t like to charge children because it can affect their lives forever so deal with it. I contacted 101 later that day after mulling over it to ask to speak to the officer or someone else about it because I’m disappointed in the outcome. They said the officer would call me straight back but I’m still awaiting that call. Contacted 101 again yesterday to chase the call back and they said someone would call me but they’re unable to offer a timescale so I’m not hopeful anyone will.

Where do I go from here, if anywhere? Have the police done enough? Is a chat with the boy sufficient and I’m being horrible expecting anything beyond this? It’s just the fact it was a totally unprovoked attack and my DS is a really good boy, his only mistake was walking past the wrong person at the wrong time.

I do believe assault and battery are 2 separate charges.

I'm not surprised in the school response or the Police.

My DS was told by a particularly nasty little sod that he would get DD raped by his brother and himself, and in his view she should be thrown from a building for being gay.

I was horrified and incredibly upset. I called school, school said call police.

I did so on 101. What an utter waste of time that was

I got a call 4 days afterwards, to tell me they wouldn't be taking action as it was "culturally sensitive" and not a "proper or believable threat". Never even came to our home, never came into school, school actually intervened and contacted their liaison and suggested Prevent protocol and still they did nothing. As the police decided to take no action, school could do nothing other than in school exclusion as LEA will not allow exclusions or suspensions without a child having police involvement.

So my DD had to walk round school, for months with someone who said he and his brothers would rape her. DS refused to be in the same class as the boy and his gang which school agreed to and moved him and his mate to a different class group for maths.

DD actually raised it with their LGBTQ society at school and used it as an example of how society and the police let down their community.

The fact the police even came out and agreed to speak to the boy who assaulted your son is more than most get. They can't be bothered with the paperwork, it's nothing to do with reputations or such as he quoted. Also, the CPS won't do anything either. There are so many outstation cases this won't be seen as a priority.

@Felix125 according to the CPS website, if punching is involved, and injuries are sustained, even by the way of bruising, and the victim is vulnerable and intimidated, which is appropriate in this case, the charge is indeed ABH.

Well in 20+ years I have never know a scratch or bruising being returned from CPS with anything other than a common assault charge - nothing higher.

My ex smashed a bottle over someone's head which left a cut and he was put in prison for 3 months for ABH.

Yes - because being hit with a weapon (the bottle) is an aggravating factor. The injury would be the assault. i would suggest it was crimed as a S18 wounding (GBH) and they charged with an ABH following CPS. There would be medical evidence also i presume.

Thereisnolight · Today 16:41
All these posters pointing out minutiae of the law and pointing out what the police CAN’T do.
What CAN they do? And if the answer is: nothing, what SHOULD change? Why do they hide behind a faulty system?

They can look at interventions, YOT interactions, restorative justice. Go to court if the victim is happy to do this

But it depends what the victim wants to happen - so far we don't know?

I don't know actually as it was before I met him but you are right regards the aggravating factor of the weapon. I was thinking in terms of the injury caused.

Presumably it was more than just a slight scratch

So sorry OP, I've completely gone off on a tangent. I really hope your son is ok considering.

DS is so laid back he’s practically horizontal so he isn’t sure what he expected from this. He would go to court if he was told this would happen but it obviously isn’t and I don’t think our opinion ultimately matters anyway, we don’t have a say over the outcome. I just hope the boy is deterred by the chat with the PC and that he doesn’t go on to hurt anyone else.

This was truly horrible to read. I hope your DS and DD are ok, it must have been a terrifying time for them.

DD was angry more than upset, because she couldn't understand why someone was able to say that and not be spoken to at the least by the police, and said cultural sensitivity was a load of bollocks. In her view, her sexuality was more sensitive and we live in times when we are supposed to support and uphold LGBTQ values and rights.

DS was upset as he's not the kind to hit someone, or get angry back, he said he felt bad that he was too shocked to respond. He has since had some lessons in confidence building with have worked wonders.

The lad involved has since, thankfully, left. So they've not seen him since then.

Doesn’t work like that though does it.

Which is why the Police are so frustrated with the Youth teams in court.

All that’s happening is your creating a skilled criminal underclass who by the time they are 18, who know how to play the game.

Lack of consequences = more criminality.

Personally i see more vigilanteism these days and it’s hard to argue against it - when justice is only there for the criminals.