it's difficult to legislate for what a policeman could and couldn't be permitted to do as a way of dealing with minor offences. That's why I think the police should have let this go to court and a sensible judiciary (but we don't seem to have one) would say no harm done so stop wasting court time - case dismissed. Or if they have to find for the lad a jury shoud decide damages - so he can be awarded 1p!