The son of a family friend was recently accused of a crime. There was no proof, simply one person’s word. The police arrested him in the middle of the night, seized his clothing then released him on bail. Despite him being a minor and despite guidelines that state such people should be dealt with quickly, it took five months before they finally decided they had no evidence 
on which to charge him. (I could add that the ‘witness’ turned out to be totally unreliable.) Then, when he went to collect his clothes, they handed them over in large brown bags marked ‘Police Evidence’ and ‘Prisoner Property’ to carry through the streets. All in all, it was a highly traumatic experience for a young person who has always been law abiding.
The police should ask themselves whether treating an innocent young person like a criminal, especially after there is no doubt of his innocence, is likely to encourage him to regard the police as worthy of support in the future. A commercial company offering this kind of customer service would be damaging its brand and risk going out of business.
on which to charge him. (I could add that the ‘witness’ turned out to be totally unreliable.) Then, when he went to collect his clothes, they handed them over in large brown bags marked ‘Police Evidence’ and ‘Prisoner Property’ to carry through the streets. All in all, it was a highly traumatic experience for a young person who has always been law abiding.The police should ask themselves whether treating an innocent young person like a criminal, especially after there is no doubt of his innocence, is likely to encourage him to regard the police as worthy of support in the future. A commercial company offering this kind of customer service would be damaging its brand and risk going out of business.
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