So, I Am One For Chasing Criminals But Does This Seem A Bit Heavy Handed?

[youngmafbog]

When first reading it I thought it was some other charge and this was the start. But no, the offence was: 'assault by using a straw to fire a chip, hitting a woman in the face'.

Now firstly one does have to wonder how you get a chip(even a manky MaccyD one) into a straw but secondly does this really warrant hours of Police time : "He was arrested and prosecutors took months to build up a case against him," when they claim they dont have resources to go after burglars (even when there are clues/cctv).

Perhaps I have missed something?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5980845/Boy-13-charged-assault-firing-McDonalds-chip-straw-Hammersmith-west-London.html

[Mamyalynne]

I'm sure we can all see where this thread is going, like so many others lately.

[Togo]

I blame the kid's parents. He will be a chip off the old block. Had he stabbed her, plod would be pleading "lack of resources" and no prosecution would have been pursued.

[Minkyme]

He needs to have the book of law thrown at him as punishment and as a deterrent to his friends and community as today's it’s chips and a straw and tomorrow it could be a knife and an AR-15 Assault rifle.

ZERO TOLERANCE and nipping it in the bud should be the order of the day from here on thusly.

[douglas9401]

Too late to be trying to clean up Dodge, the rot is too deep seated.

[naomi24]

I think you're right, Mamyalynne. Something more sensible calls. Bye for now.

[murraymints]

it would certainly upset me having a chip or anything else for that matter spat at me in a public place

[murraymints]

more so...agreed...

[Minkyme]

/:it would certainly upset me having a chip or anything else for that matter spat at me in a public place-//

Not to mention degrading, embarrassing and as spath Said leaving you in fear, victimised and possibly wither a phobia of being in public spaces.

[murraymints]

I wouldn't go that far ! I would be angry for sure

[douglas9401]

"This thread isn't just about chips and straws. It's about committing assault in a restaurant, no matter what tools are used."

It may be now but I'm sure it started as one questioning the best use of police resources.

Anyway, it's all getting too hysterical and hyperbolic too quickly for me. I may have to call a constable.

[vulcan42]

Zero tolerance is desirable, but spending months preparing this case while burglaries, which can include assault, are being ignored is not zero tolerance. Why should this one case have top priority and others, equally important, are ignored?

[murraymints]

perhaps a formal caution would have been better ?

[youngmafbog]

Good Lord, what is happening on AB these days?

Seems a cople of 'new' contributors are getting a bit odd.

Think I'll give it a rest for a few weeks.

[Minkyme]

//perhaps a formal caution would have been better//

Assault warrants a jail sentence imo.

What if his chip hit the wrong person who then thought it was someone else and proceeded to attack he other group? You could have a riot on tour hands as this snivelling cowards slopes away laughing into his sleeve as the cowardly weasel slopes away from the carnage that HE started.