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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Apology after girl held in cell | Apology after girl held in cell |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Police have apologised after a 10-year-old girl was arrested, handcuffed and detained for six hours including being held in a police cell in Devon. | Police have apologised after a 10-year-old girl was arrested, handcuffed and detained for six hours including being held in a police cell in Devon. |
| Shannon Blake from Tiverton was arrested along with two older youths following an incident in a park. | Shannon Blake from Tiverton was arrested along with two older youths following an incident in a park. |
| Her father Michael said he received a phone call from officers more than two hours after her arrest. | Her father Michael said he received a phone call from officers more than two hours after her arrest. |
| Chief Insp Ivan Trethewey of Devon and Cornwall Police said the phone call should have been made an hour earlier. | Chief Insp Ivan Trethewey of Devon and Cornwall Police said the phone call should have been made an hour earlier. |
| Police are investigating the initial incident which took place at a park near where Shannon lives. | Police are investigating the initial incident which took place at a park near where Shannon lives. |
| She was arrested and taken to a police station following a disturbance involving about 20 youths on 18 August. | She was arrested and taken to a police station following a disturbance involving about 20 youths on 18 August. |
| Her father, lorry driver Michael Blake, 55, said he was called by police at 1715, two and a quarter hours after Shannon was arrested. She was released from Heavitree Police Station in Exeter at 2045. | |
| 'Appropriate adult' | 'Appropriate adult' |
| He said: "I had a little bit of a set-to with the custody sergeant. | He said: "I had a little bit of a set-to with the custody sergeant. |
| "I lost my temper on the phone and swore at him and he told me I was not an appropriate adult so I would not be allowed into the interview with Shannon." | "I lost my temper on the phone and swore at him and he told me I was not an appropriate adult so I would not be allowed into the interview with Shannon." |
| He said he went to Exeter police station and was told he would not be let in and a social services worker was acting as an adult. | He said he went to Exeter police station and was told he would not be let in and a social services worker was acting as an adult. |
| For a 10-year-old to be arrested I think is way over the top Father, Michael Blake | For a 10-year-old to be arrested I think is way over the top Father, Michael Blake |
| He said: "If your daughter is arrested at three o'clock and you don't receive a call until five-fifteen I'm sure most parents would be a little abusive over the phone." | He said: "If your daughter is arrested at three o'clock and you don't receive a call until five-fifteen I'm sure most parents would be a little abusive over the phone." |
| He added: "For a 10-year-old to be arrested I think is way over the top. | He added: "For a 10-year-old to be arrested I think is way over the top. |
| "Why didn't they say 'We'll take you home to your dad and we'll sort it out there'?" | "Why didn't they say 'We'll take you home to your dad and we'll sort it out there'?" |
| Ch Insp Trethewey said he was concerned about the time that police took to call Mr Blake. | Ch Insp Trethewey said he was concerned about the time that police took to call Mr Blake. |
| "I would have expected it to have been an hour quicker than that and I would apologise if that took longer than it should." | "I would have expected it to have been an hour quicker than that and I would apologise if that took longer than it should." |
| 'Tender years' | 'Tender years' |
| He said it was "very unusual" for officers to arrest a 10-year old but added, "at the time of arrest they may not have known the age of the individual". | He said it was "very unusual" for officers to arrest a 10-year old but added, "at the time of arrest they may not have known the age of the individual". |
| He said handcuffs can be used on anyone as long as officers felt it was necessary. | He said handcuffs can be used on anyone as long as officers felt it was necessary. |
| "Normally we would try and find an appropriate holding room for someone of tender years, but if that is not available then they can be placed in a cell. | "Normally we would try and find an appropriate holding room for someone of tender years, but if that is not available then they can be placed in a cell. |
| "Sadly, sometimes people of that age do need to be put in a cell." | "Sadly, sometimes people of that age do need to be put in a cell." |
| He explained that police could take the decision that individuals may be denied access to a juvenile if they are deemed unsuitable. | He explained that police could take the decision that individuals may be denied access to a juvenile if they are deemed unsuitable. |
| No formal complaint has been made to police but Ch Insp Trethewey admitted there were a "couple of things we could improve on". | No formal complaint has been made to police but Ch Insp Trethewey admitted there were a "couple of things we could improve on". |