header-logo header-logo

10 December 2009 / Jennifer James
Issue: 7397 / Categories: Blogs , Health & safety
printer mail-detail

Naughty but nice

Jennifer James toys with some new Christmas gift ideas

The Insider was somewhat taken aback to read in the Daily Telegraph that parents have been told not to buy their children a toy gun for Christmas, in case a police marksman mistakes it for a real weapon and shoots them. Senior officers in Essex are quoted as having said that plastic guns are now so realistic that even a trained police marksman may not be able to tell it’s a toy, leading to potential confrontations between armed officers and children.

Feeling the force

A spokesman for the force stated: “When we respond to…incidents we cannot always identify whether a gun is real or fake. Carrying an imitation gun could ultimately result in a highly-trained armed officer having to challenge a teenager and so, naturally, we are worried.”

Hold your horses

In February this year, according to the Telegraph, a couple’s “Cowboys and Indians” fancy dress anniversary party sparked a police raid, including a helicopter, when their toy guns were mistaken for the real thing,

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen appoints senior legal PR and ex-government communications adviser, Liz Giles

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott boosts Southampton commercial property team with addition of partner Lee Edwards

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors announces four promotions

NEWS
The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, and Solicitor General, Andy Slaughter KC MP, marked the 25th anniversary of Pro Bono Week by joining lawyers, charities, students and parliamentarians at events celebrating voluntary legal work
A polished legal defence may owe more to artificial intelligence than legal merit—and creditors risk paying the price in delay and expense
Witness evidence can be compromised by AI before a solicitor sees the draft, leaving safeguards focused on authorship incomplete
Should a conviction stand when a later ruling reveals that the law underpinning it was wrong? The answer exposes a clash between finality and justice
Possession claims are entering a new digital era, with procedural traps awaiting practitioners who assume familiar rules still govern every step
back-to-top-scroll