Heavy Handed Policing Or Nor Not?

[webbo3]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-53538740

what kind of parent buys their child one of these at the moment, if he took it out of the house he could have been shot, and BB guns do fire projectiles.

[ladybirder]

Do you think a No Win No Fee company would take it on Mamy? I'd be surprised if they won. She must have more money than sense if she's employing a lawyer.

[Mamyalynne]

I may be wrong but my guess is that she has been approached.

[Ellipsis]

> I would like to ask Mina Agyepong what she thinks the Police should do when they receive a call saying that someone is sat with a gun.

The call was that a black man was seen with a gun.

Having heard her interviewed on Channel 4 News and the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, I think her response would be "Exactly the same as if a white man was seen with a gun."

I think we're kidding ourselves if we think the reporting (by the concerned member of the public) and handling (by the police) of this incident would have been exactly the same if it was a white family. Certainly, if it was my white family, I'd be kicking off about it a lot more than Mina Agyepong is.

[Mamyalynne]

I see, is she thinking of suing the caller?

I have reported someone with a firearm and I described him in every detail.

[Ellipsis]

The reason I mentioned the caller was

a) they were nosing through someone's window! which says a lot about their character
b) if they'd seen a white child with a toy gun, they probably would have seen exactly that: a white child with a toy gun. As it was, they saw a black *man* with a *real* gun.

The caller isn't in line to be sued, I'm just saying that the prejudice in this case all started there.

[ladybirder]

I think you're right Mamy, they probably were approached.
The front rooms of those houses or flats are almost on the pavement except for the metal railings. If the lights were on it would be very easy for a passerby to see in without being particularly nosy. Had it been a real gun the person who reported it would be a lauded for it.

[Mamyalynne]

Whether there was malice or mischief as regards the caller,we will likely never know.

I stand by my original statement that the bare facts given to the Police necessiated them taking the action initially.

Whether they became heavy handed once they had the boy and the pellet gun, the inquiry will sort out.

It isn't nice having the Police ransack your house (been there) however as long as they are acting reasonably then I am not sure what point there is
complaining too long and hard.

[sevenOP]

"Whether there was malice or mischief as regards the caller,we will likely never know."

Maybe, but the exact time the call was made, the recording of the details of the call (FOI request), possibly the identity and phone number of the caller, and the exact response time compared to the time the call was made, are all on record and will hopefully be investigated.

The potential dangers IF there was malicious intent should be glaringly obvious.

[douglas9401]

I had guns as a child but struggle to remember the last time I shot anyone, carried out an armed robbery or sat on a couch with intent to wound.

I did pop numerous caps but not in anyone's ass.

[Peter Pedant]

// It isn't nice having the Police ransack your house (been there)//

christ you have led an interesting life

as for the report - I dont think there is a cause of action as the reporter saw a child with what could have been a gun - ie reasonable

I understand the Police have refused to release the body cam viddie - the child might have been handcuffed naked - and the reviewer is totally and completely satisfied that the take-down was properly conducted - - -
in which case the viddy is claimable under the data protection act = as it isnt a crime viddie

(altho I think in this day and age giving any child a toy gun to play with , can be bettered.....)

[sanmac]

As ML said earlier,
"Whether there was malice or mischief as regards the caller,we will likely never know." The callers motive is completely irrelevant and immaterial to the situation. The important fact is that the police received a call involving a gun.