Avon and Somerset Police have got themselves into understandable trouble after crashing into a 16th birthday barbecue celebration and spraying CS gas in the faces of those attending, including that of 10 year-old Abbie Symonds.
Apparently the motive behind the armed intervention by around 35 police officers in 10 cars and riot vans was the arrest of Abbie's 20 year-old brother, Robert Symonds, for breaching bail conditions.
According to the report, the police officers:
...grabbed Mr Symonds, handcuffed him and dragged him to a police car and when other members of the family stepped forward to ask what was happening, they were sprayed in the face.
There is probably more to this story than meets the eye, especially given that another brother, 16-year-old Nigel, and his father, also called Nigel, were arrested for public order offences the following day.
However the fact remains that the use of CS gas in this situation was entirely inappropriate whatever the circumstances, and would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.
Police officers should be equipped to deal with any trouble that might come their way. But being granted the right to possess and use that equipment comes with great responsibility. That responsibility was plainly not exercised during this incident.
We all want to be able to teach children to trust the police. It becomes harder to do so when they’re kicking the door down and using CS gas at children’s parties.
By Dylan Sharpe
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