Appropriate Adults.

Whenever a juvenile is spoken to by Police in an official capacity, whether as a witness, victim or suspect, they will have an appropriate adult present. This will normally be their parent. I say "normally" because the parent isn't always the most appropriate person.

We have a lad who lives on our patch who has just turned ten years old. This is important because he is now able, legally, to break the law. Somebody under the age of ten can't break the law because they're not old enough to know the difference. They can be naughty, but there's not a lot we can do about it.

This particular chap has been causing all sorts of problems for his neighbours over the last couple of years, culminating in him actually killing one of their cats. Unfortunately, his mum can't see that he's a little so-and-so and chooses to believe that the neighbours, the Police and the Council are all picking on him. Because of this, she overlooks all his bad behaviour and so, obviously, he knows he can get away with pretty much anything. (Until the next time we catch him that is. He's got a shock coming when that cell door closes on him).

One of the officers on my team had to go round to his house about six months about something that he'd done. Mum answered the door, TV blaring in the background and dirty dressing gown barely managing to keep her covered. The officer explained that she needed to speak to her and the boy about the incident. He shouted from upstairs, "I ain't done nuffin! She's lying!"

Mum decided to play Devil's advokate and keep an open mind. By turning to the officer and saying, "You heard him. Now fuck off!" before slamming the door in the bobby's face.

Now, I'm no child psychologist, but I really don't think she's setting the best possible example for her spawn. Maybe by telling a Police Officer to "Foxtrot Oscar" in front of the kiddie she's condoning this sort of behaviour? Just an opinion.

Anyway, I've started to get a bit cheesed off with parents who refuse to take responsability for their kid's actions. With the times we phone a parent and tell them Little Johnny's been nicked again, so would they mind awfully popping down to the station to act as his Appropriate Adult. And for me to be told, "You can fu**ing keep him! I've had enough!" and then to have the phone slammed down on me.

I honestly think that the only time some of them would notice that their kids weren't there any more would be when the child benefit stopped. Then I'm damn sure they'd remember the little bundle of joy they brought into the world.

Maybe the answer is to make parents who can be shown to not be taking an active part in their child's upbringing liable to paying fines and compensation for what their children have done.

The next time we have to speak to the ten year old, if he ends up in Court and the victim is awarded £100 compensation and Mum has to pay this I'm sure she'll be a bit more careful about what he gets up to in future.