It's official: the world has gone mad

04/07/2008

We were recently contacted by a reader who was concerned about what she felt might be 'unjust targeting' of vulnerable older people by the authorities. Her concerns were triggered by the shocking story of a mature man with a heart condition who spent 18 hours in a police cell after being arrested for dropping an apple core - a crime he denies - thereby costing the taxpayer at least £5000.

Given that an apple core is organic and would have been eaten by a grateful bird or insects overnight, and that the location - Manchester City Centre - is frequently strewn with debris such as cans and take-away containers after revellers' nights' out, we thought our reader had a good point.

The man concerned not only had a heart condition, but is also a full-time carer for his wife, and was just going to the chemist when he was approached by a police community support officer and accused of dropping the apple core. He denied the charge and a further five policemen arrived within minutes (try achieving that when you report a burglar!).

After refusing to pay an on-the-spot fine or give his name (understandably), he was taken into custody at Swinton police station, had his DNA and fingerprints taken - and had to be seen twice by a doctor after experiencing dizziness and chest pains. He was then kept overnight and later charged with littering and obstructing a police officer - which he denied.

So who was the first officer on the scene? Mr. Hirst who had just come out of the Post Office at the time, told the Manchester  Evening Post: “There was a chap there in a fluorescent jacket, big sunglasses, and a baseball cap, on a bike, with a wad of tickets and a pen. He said ‘why did you drop that apple core?’, and I told him I hadn’t dropped an apple core.

“He then said he wanted my name and address. He was an over-zealous young lad baying to give me a ticket. I told him I was on my way to the shops but would be walking back that way if he wanted to speak to me later. He followed me through the precinct to the chemist, and when I came out there were five police officers surrounding me."

Back at the police station, they took his belongings, including a medical card with his full name and details. But even that didn't stop them keeping him in custody. His disabled and worried wife, who only heard from him at 10.45pm, hours after he had left to go to the chemist, was so concerned that she had been ringing round hospitals.

Superintendent Ian Palmer's comment on the situation was: “Littering is an offence and officers are expected to challenge anyone seen littering and have powers to deal with this on the street." But an apple core? And five officers? Have they really nothing better to do?

The incident hapened in May but it taken until now, early July, for the authorities to decide they would drop the charges. But one legal expert has estimated that the cost of two court appearances, police officers' time, the cost of preparing a file on the case and Legal Aid for the accused has totalled at least £5,000. Godness knows what this has cost Mr Hirst and his family in stress.

An adamant Chief Supt Kevin Mulligan, head of Salford police has insisted that "the man involved was wholly obstructive towards the police."

Mr Hirst's only minor success seems to be that the police took on board the fact that  they took off his glasses then asked him to read and sign something.

The readers who contacted us wonders whether the original police officer would have been quite so adamant about the apple core incident if had been someone younger with a couple of dogs in tow and tattoos on his neck. In other words, should the Police and local councils be aware that older people may be charged more than is necessary because they are vulnerable and more easily intimidated - and generally more likely to pay the on-the-spot-fines?

Your views welcome. Send them to: jayne.warren@maturetimes.co.uk