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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Backlash over hunt for motorist who soaked woman and children | Backlash over hunt for motorist who soaked woman and children |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| A police force which launched a witness appeal after a drive-by puddle-splashing has been mocked online. | A police force which launched a witness appeal after a drive-by puddle-splashing has been mocked online. |
| Two children and a woman were soaked when a motorist drove through the water in St Ives, Cambridgeshire. | Two children and a woman were soaked when a motorist drove through the water in St Ives, Cambridgeshire. |
| A plea for information was posted by an officer when the "potential crime" was reported - sparking accusations the force was wasting resources. | A plea for information was posted by an officer when the "potential crime" was reported - sparking accusations the force was wasting resources. |
| But Police and Crime Commissioner Jason Ablewhite replied: "Please be assured that the flying squad did not attend." | But Police and Crime Commissioner Jason Ablewhite replied: "Please be assured that the flying squad did not attend." |
| Mr Ablewhite responded after the appeal was publicised in the Cambridge News. | Mr Ablewhite responded after the appeal was publicised in the Cambridge News. |
| The woman, accompanied by a child and another in a pram, were splashed as a driver went through a 20ft (6m) puddle as they walked on a pavement near Pig Lane in St Ives. | The woman, accompanied by a child and another in a pram, were splashed as a driver went through a 20ft (6m) puddle as they walked on a pavement near Pig Lane in St Ives. |
| The appeal, by a police community support officer, read: "Unbelievably a motorist drove through the puddle causing the water to soak the three. | |
| "The driver could well have waited to drive around the puddle or drive through it very slowly so as to not cause water to splash anyone on the footpath." | "The driver could well have waited to drive around the puddle or drive through it very slowly so as to not cause water to splash anyone on the footpath." |
| Police said the driver "could be prosecuted for driving without due consideration", if the act was deliberate. | Police said the driver "could be prosecuted for driving without due consideration", if the act was deliberate. |
| However, the appeal sparked a backlash on social media, with the police and crime commissioner being asked to "please explain this waste of tax payers' money". | However, the appeal sparked a backlash on social media, with the police and crime commissioner being asked to "please explain this waste of tax payers' money". |
| Police and Crime Commissioner Jason Ablewhite replied: "Please be assured that the flying squad did not attend." | Police and Crime Commissioner Jason Ablewhite replied: "Please be assured that the flying squad did not attend." |
| He told the BBC: "This was one PCSO making local enquiries and the resource is proportionate to the complaint." | He told the BBC: "This was one PCSO making local enquiries and the resource is proportionate to the complaint." |
| Cambridgeshire Police said no-one had yet admitted being responsible for the incident. | Cambridgeshire Police said no-one had yet admitted being responsible for the incident. |