holly christ! talk about over reaction by these cops.

[QED]

Originally posted by: Zeke

Parents and teachers pressure kids younger than that into worrying about college. And we have two differing reports in the article on what acutally happend to this tree, I would say on balance "destroying other peoples property" is a bit extreme.

What you said is exactly why I find the parent's tale of woe a bit laughable. What the parent should have said is

"I'm very concerned about the arrest affecting the ability of my daughter going to college"... not some BS about how their kid is well-tempered, polite, and is so focused on academic study it is just not possible their kid would ever do anything malicious.

 

[imported_Zeke]

Originally posted by: QED

Originally posted by: Zeke

Parents and teachers pressure kids younger than that into worrying about college. And we have two differing reports in the article on what acutally happend to this tree, I would say on balance "destroying other peoples property" is a bit extreme.

What you said is exactly why I find the parent's tale of woe a bit laughable. What the parent should have said is

"I'm very concerned about the arrest affecting the ability of my daughter going to college"... not some BS about how their kid is well-tempered, polite, and is so focused on academic study it is just not possible their kid would ever do anything malicious.

Even if you break the law in building one, I dont think tree forts have ever been considered malicious. Maybe if they were built from parts stolen from the tree houses of other kids they beat up..........They are 12 year olds, not Hell's Angels.


Oh and I agree, the parents they quote sound a tad loony.

 

[Praxis1452]

fvcking enviromentalists...

 

[fallensight]

Just telling them to get out of the tree, and scolding them would probly have been enough. But down near the end of that article there was this

'West Midlands Police deals robustly with anti-social behaviour. By targeting what may seem relatively low-level crime we aim to prevent it developing into more serious matters.'

anti-social behaviour now a criminal offense? Talk about an open ended reason to arrest anyone.

 

[imported_Zeke]

Originally posted by: Praxis1452
fvcking enviromentalists...

HAH! best response yet. Must have been a spotted owl tree

 

[imported_Zeke]

Originally posted by: fallensight
Just telling them to get out of the tree, and scolding them would probly have been enough. But down near the end of that article there was this

'West Midlands Police deals robustly with anti-social behaviour. By targeting what may seem relatively low-level crime we aim to prevent it developing into more serious matters.'

anti-social behaviour now a criminal offense? Talk about an open ended reason to arrest anyone.

Emo kids beware, the police will find you.

 

[SVT Cobra]

A very sensationalistic article to say the least, but the cops overreacted. Also I would have liked to know who the jackass was who called the cops instead of getting off their ass and politely telling the kids to get out of the tree, if they cared so much about their community and the current "criminal and anti-social" activities.

 

[imported_Zeke]

Originally posted by: F22 Raptor
A very sensationalistic article to say the least, but the cops overreacted. Also I would have liked to know who the jackass was who called the cops instead of getting off their ass and politely telling the kids to get out of the tree, if they cared so much about their community and the current "criminal and anti-social" activities.

Probably afraid the malicous 12 year olds would beat them up.

 

[MisterJackson]

Originally posted by: fallensight
Just telling them to get out of the tree, and scolding them would probly have been enough. But down near the end of that article there was this

'West Midlands Police deals robustly with anti-social behaviour. By targeting what may seem relatively low-level crime we aim to prevent it developing into more serious matters.'

anti-social behaviour now a criminal offense? Talk about an open ended reason to arrest anyone.

Where does it say in that sentence that "anti social behavior" is considered a criminal offense???

They're saying that they want to curb anti-social behavior (i.e. gang activity, property destruction, etc.) by enforcing laws already on the books that deter kids at a young age from going down this path.

I remember what crap I was up to when I was 12 and 13. I'm not saying every kid was the delinquent that I was, but if cops had taken a sterner approach in handling me when I screwed up I might have flown a little more straight.

I'm not blaming anyone, I'm just saying that cops doing this (although I agree the "booking them" was a tad much) is actually proactive instead of reactive.

And secondly, the parents should step up a bit here and accept some responsibility. My son would never consider doing something like that in a public park or place. If it's a tree in his yard he's got free license to build a "tree den" if he does so with consideration to the tree (i.e. not killing the damn thing).

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: MisterJackson

Originally posted by: fallensight
Just telling them to get out of the tree, and scolding them would probly have been enough. But down near the end of that article there was this

'West Midlands Police deals robustly with anti-social behaviour. By targeting what may seem relatively low-level crime we aim to prevent it developing into more serious matters.'

anti-social behaviour now a criminal offense? Talk about an open ended reason to arrest anyone.

Where does it say in that sentence that "anti social behavior" is considered a criminal offense???

They're saying that they want to curb anti-social behavior (i.e. gang activity, property destruction, etc.) by enforcing laws already on the books that deter kids at a young age from going down this path.

I remember what crap I was up to when I was 12 and 13. I'm not saying every kid was the delinquent that I was, but if cops had taken a sterner approach in handling me when I screwed up I might have flown a little more straight.

I'm not blaming anyone, I'm just saying that cops doing this (although I agree the "booking them" was a tad much) is actually proactive instead of reactive.

And secondly, the parents should step up a bit here and accept some responsibility. My son would never consider doing something like that in a public park or place. If it's a tree in his yard he's got free license to build a "tree den" if he does so with consideration to the tree (i.e. not killing the damn thing).

I agree. kids tearing off a few branches to make a den of sex is wrong! if we had more cops to stop kids from breaking limbs on a tree and makeing such places to hide (comon 2 girls and a guy? and did you see the cleavage the one slut was showing? where are hte parents!) to have sex (what else could they be doing) society would be better off.

its good that they got the DNA. that way when these kids move into more heanus crimes such as littering they can use the DNA on the lollipop to bust the little bastards!

 

[dmcowen674]

All kids caught outside should be locked up.

 

[buck]

Bah, its the UK, who cares....

 

[zerocool1]

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
Won't somebody PLEASE think of the trees?!

isn't that from the lorax

Originally posted by: Eeezee
Putting them in jail was a bit much. Taking them to the station and giving them a good talking to would have been enough.

yea.

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
All kids caught outside should be locked up.

Damn... this is the first post from Dave that has ever made me laugh.

 

[Baked]

Must've got the memo from Israel that terrorists start young. I bet the cops would've shot and killed the children if they weren't white.

 

[DrPizza]

Hmmmm... unlike everyone else quick to judgement and call it an over-reaction, I'd have to see a picture of the damage to the tree first. I highly doubt this was done over 2 or 3 little branches - "an ornamental cherry tree by stripping every branch from it." According to one of the parents, the tree was quite old ("generations"). So, they may actually have caused significant damage to the tree. Also, a for what it's worth, since I'm going to hear it from the "it's just a tree" people; the value of individual trees can range well into the thousands of dollars. I have an ornamental japanese maple sitting in my front yard, waiting to be planted... As a matter of fact, I got a good deal on it because someone broke 1 branch. The price tag was $269; I got it for $40 because of the damage.