If The Law's An Ass, What Are The Enforcers?

[wired]

Police in Grantham threaten to confiscate 4 year olds bike because she was riding on the pavement.earlier in the week it was stated that police were cautioning some criminals instead of arresting them , it seems we have strangely selective law enforcers.

[Peter Pedant]

I think you have to put up with the law enforcers you pay for quite honestly

They are allowed to do this by the way ( too many laws not enough police so something has to give way ) I am pretty sure Blackburn v MPC 1964 is stll good law, altho I realise that this is News and not Law-

[Old_Geezer]

You may be better off paying them dishonestly ;-)

[EDDIE51]

Cautions are the normal method of dealing with minor offences that do not warrant a court case. You HAVE TO BE ARRESTED before you can be cautioned.
Accepting a caution means you have admitted the offence.

[Baldric]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-31805312

///"The police officer had forgotten that children under the age of 10 are below the criminal age of responsibility so they can't break laws and can technically ride on the pavement,"///

[Old_Geezer]

Surely they can break laws, they are just not held to be responsible. So should they have confiscated the parent's bike ? Presumably they are responsible.

[Mamyalynne]

The Officer was clearly having a bad day - Lincolnshire Police have apologised, good.

[DaisyNonna]

Police are a figment of the imagination here

[Peter Pedant]

It depends on whether there is a power to confiscate a bike if it is ridden on the pavement
I would have thought not because police stations are not full of children;s bikes

Yeah I am pretty sure when a child steals an object even tho the child may bot be prosecutable, the objaaay still has the status of 'stolen'

[Peter Pedant]

// The Officer was clearly having a bad day - Lincolnshire Police have apologised, good.//

for not knowing the law when they are paid to

or for spending time threatening a child ?

[DaisyNonna]

More bikes ridden on the pavement than on the road or even designated cycle lanes, by adults.

[DaisyNonna]

What good is a caution?
Yes officer, I did it.
Off you go. Be Good.
Ha ha!

[jno]

there's slightly mor to a caution than just saying Off You Go.

[Peter Pedant]

NO here it is gonna be mmore

DO you realise that you have broked the law and I can have you transported in chains for up to seven years

Perp ( for it is she ) gubba gubba gubba - bang bang shang a lang !
Perp gives p'liceman cute 'Princess Di' look

[Mamyalynne]

//Lincolnshire Police apologised and said: "Safety is our priority and cycling on the pavement is illegal.

"However, common sense obviously prevails and in the case of young children officers should use their discretion and offer the most appropriate advice for the circumstances."//

[Peter Pedant]

You did say 4 year old and not 14 year old
and Grantham and not Rochdale ?

[Mamyalynne]

It's all in the link Peter.

[Peter Pedant]

Thank you MML sozza

[Mamyalynne]

S'Ok

[DaisyNonna]

Really? The person who verbally assaulted and intimidated me a train and then followed me shouting insults when I alighted, followed me. 15 minutes later he was waiting for me outside the station after I had tried to avoid him and calm myself down in the Ladies'. He had according to the police done it all before and had been cautioned. I found out weeks later that he had been cautioned again.
Pity his next victim.

[Gromit]

All this could have been avoided if the 4 year old had just cycled in the cycle/bus lane like he is supposed to do. He is not too young to understand that laws have to be obeyed and that policemen are there to make everyone, including infants, do ad they are told.
Jeez, people will be complaining next when a conscientious policeman conficates a child's imitation firearm from his cowboy outfit.