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The mother of a nine-year-old boy has lodged a complaint after her son was stopped and searched by police.

BBC News, August 18^th, 2009

So let’s take a look at the facts here:

1. with friends in Camberwell, south London

   South London isn’t a particularly nice place; and that’s not just me being stereotypical and rude. Take a look at South London Press Today, or the map I created of teenage killings in London.

2. Police are legally able to search children under the age of 10

   That doesn’t mean they should, sure – but they absolutely can. From the kick off, she doesn’t seem to have much of a leg to stand on.

3. “Looking at him you can see he is not a suspect,” she added.

   No, Sandra, you think he’s not a suspect. Because he’s your son. To me, my friends, the police and everyone else, he probably looks as thuggish as every other kid. Maybe more, maybe less.

4. “It is not possible for a nine-year-old to commit a criminal offence.”

   Whoop-di-fucking-do. We should definitely let all the nine-year-olds out there just walk around with knives that they’ve picked up from home then. In fact, let’s start handing them out. Jesus. Also, this quote is stupid; common sense dictates that it is possible for a nine-year-old to commit a criminal offence, but it’s not possible to convict them for it. IANAL and all that.

5. Jadan Shepherd was searched while he was sitting on a wall

   He’s called Jadan Shepherd. Kidding, kidding, that’s not a reason. Kind of.