After throwing mud at a passing police van, the teenagers responsible were given two options; either clean a fleet of Peterlee Police vehicles or be given a more formal outcome, such as being given a potentially career-destroying police caution.
The two 16-year-olds, who donned balaclavas before launching the mud at the police van, ran away after throwing the projectiles.
However, they were arrested last Sunday evening.
To discourage them from carrying out future similar attacks on police vehicles, officers enlisted the duo to spend Friday afternoon washing their fleet of response vehicles.
The teenager’s parents were fully supportive of the police’s decision and even provided their off-spring with toothbrushes to make sure that the teenagers did the job properly.
Inspector Emma Kay, of Peterlee Neighbourhood Police Team, said:
“The consequences of throwing things at moving vehicles can be far more serious than these two realise, which I’m sure they’ve had time to consider while washing the cars.
“This is an opportunity not only for the two young offenders to take ownership of their actions, but also for our officers to engage with them and steer them in a more productive direction.
“The parents have been very supportive of this decision and are grateful that their boys are willing to think twice before heading down a criminal route.
“They’ve even supplied toothbrushes to make sure every detail comes out gleaming.”
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Needs more parents like that my experience showed their offspring never did anything wrong!!
An excellent outcome. The punishment fits the crime. The kids have learnt that they will get caught and they will get punished.
The parents supported the punishment and the kids still have a clean record. A perfect outcome.
However, next time, the kids must face more serious consequences. For this to work, the kids must realise that they will get caught and they will get punished.
Let us all fervently hope that next time never happens.