Girls picking daffodils in park were "stealing", says councillor (From Bournemouth Echo)

BmthNewshound wrote:
Its the parents who are at fault in allowing their children to pick the flowers and its right that they were told to move on.
.
Last year whilst walking my dogs in Coy Pond Gardens I noticed a parent watching their child as they picked a bunch of daffodils. When I politely told the parent that they shouldn't be picking the flowers they looked very guilty bundled the child (and daffodils) into the back of the car and drove off. The look of shame on the parents face clearly knew what their child was doing was wrong.
.
It would be interesting to see how different the response to this story would have been if the parents had been allowing their children to steal sweets from the supermarket rather than flowers from a park.

AmsterdamMan wrote:
I forgot to remind you of another thing Adams...Council property is public property, it belongs to us, not you.

Phixer wrote:
"Mrs Errington refuted the suggestion they encouraged the flower picking and said they would have stopped the girls taking them if someone had brought it to their attention." So, you admit to not being in control in a public place of three children aged 4, 6 & 10. Don't complain if social services pay you a visit.

Syd Poumen wrote:
Whilst I certainly do not condone the attitude of these parents to their childrens' behaviour, it is ironic that Cllr Adams should create such a stir about 'people ripping up public property', when he has just sanctioned the destruction of the 'iconic' flower beds at the entrance to Poole Park!

boverboy wrote:
The Councillor lacks communication skills - a word with the parents would have been sufficient

AmsterdamMan wrote:
I forgot to remind you of another thing Adams...Council property is public property, it belongs to us, not you.

LilliputMum1 wrote:
As one of the parents in question, I know that there were only 20 daffodils or so.

We were watching our children, but they were also running freely among the flowers, a few yards away. They were enjoying themselves on a beautiful spring morning.

When I said that "if someone had told us" - I was actually referring to the 'crime' - I didn't know that what they were doing was wrong. Perhaps better public signage or information would have helped here. I picked daffodils and daisies as a child and did not know that it was now illegal. Of course I would not have allowed this if I had known.

Of course, had Councillor Adams approached us and informed us, we would have been aware wouldn't we - and of course we would have apologised and stopped the children.

LilliputMum1 wrote:
As one of the parents in question, I know that there were only 20 daffodils or so. We were watching our children, but they were also running freely among the flowers, a few yards away. They were enjoying themselves on a beautiful spring morning. When I said that "if someone had told us" - I was actually referring to the 'crime' - I didn't know that what they were doing was wrong. Perhaps better public signage or information would have helped here. I picked daffodils and daisies as a child and did not know that it was now illegal. Of course I would not have allowed this if I had known. Of course, had Councillor Adams approached us and informed us, we would have been aware wouldn't we - and of course we would have apologised and stopped the children.

Wally Bazoom wrote:

Syd Poumen wrote:
Whilst I certainly do not condone the attitude of these parents to their childrens' behaviour, it is ironic that Cllr Adams should create such a stir about 'people ripping up public property', when he has just sanctioned the destruction of the 'iconic' flower beds at the entrance to Poole Park!

…maybe he should have told the mum to take her daughters there to take flowers - two birds one stone, everyone’s a winner (well, apart from the flowers)!

Upkeep wrote:
The family are from Lilliput. What do you expect , they are a rough lot up there.

carrie54 wrote:
Jonkers you say you didn't know it was wrong? have you never been told that taking anything that don't belong personaly to you is wrong? I cannot believe you and your wife had parents that did not teach you this. I agree the police should have approached you and your wife not the children. I also think you and your wife got off very lightly here by haveing a warning and not a charge set against you. You are after all responcible for your children and what they do.Till that is they are of an age to stand in thier own right. Ignorance is not innocence in this case. You have chosen to highlight your childrens mis-demeaners in the press. So proving that you are not taking responcability what kind of parent are YOU.

rodoftruth wrote:
How some some people can write some of the drivel here - tangenting off about councillors' pay, finding stolen bikes, reducing expenditure on flowers is curious. The comments are off subject.

That we now have a police force that is para-military in appearance and behaviour is true and is frightening even for adults - soon such incidents will be attended by the armed support units. It is regrettable that the police were disturbed on a Sunday-double time- they may not have finished polished their boots or sleeping - do you think they care about anything in the community? Of course not - they are in it just for the money thinking how stupid we all are while they ponce around everywhere.
They are fast loosing the trust of everyone.
They wear more body armour here than anywhere in the world?

Jonkers wrote:
the girls had taken "large bunches of 70-80 flowers"
-
Of course this should not have been ignored. To allow it is the real crime. They're effectivley bringing up their children to be thoughtless, greedy, inconsiderate thieves with no respect for public property. Over the top? Maybe, but things learnt as a child tend to stick.

mungobean wrote:
I'd be mortified if my children picked the flowers, they knew they arent theirs so arent allowed to take them, simple as. What the heck were the parents doing to not notice that 3 children were picking such vast quantities of daffs, it would have taken a considerable amount of time for them to pick that many !! Such bad parenting !!

Bournefre wrote:
It is important for the police to start alienating the general public from an early age, which helps to instill a "them and us" mentality. That said the response was a bit heavy handed - the officers could have just reminded the parents that harvesting flowers in a public park is stealing and moved them along, instead of racing to the scene with lights and sirens, arresting the young girls, handcuffing them and throwing them in the cells.... - LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... Security word: bird-wish

Brian Badonde wrote:
Have any of you actually read the article??: To quote: "Officers told the **parents** of the girls..." and "Councillor Peter Adams, who said **a family member of his** had reported the incident..." In any case, I agree that it should be obvious that ripping up a large quantity of flowers you don't own is wrong. To suggest a sign is required is quite ridiculous.

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote:
It is important for the police to start alienating the general public from an early age, which helps to instill a "them and us" mentality. That said the response was a bit heavy handed - the officers could have just reminded the parents that harvesting flowers in a public park is stealing and moved them along, instead of racing to the scene with lights and sirens, arresting the young girls, handcuffing them and throwing them in the cells.... - LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... Security word: bird-wish

LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes....

That's right cover the ground in signage then there will be no room for any flowers. With people like you two it's no wonder this country is going slightly bonkers!!!
The kids were in the wrong, the parents were in the wrong BUT the Councillor could have taken them to one side to have a quiet word rather than wasting our tax and calling the police. Security work gold-soil.......LOL

TinyLegacy wrote:

BmthNewshound wrote: Its the parents who are at fault in allowing their children to pick the flowers and its right that they were told to move on. . Last year whilst walking my dogs in Coy Pond Gardens I noticed a parent watching their child as they picked a bunch of daffodils. When I politely told the parent that they shouldn't be picking the flowers they looked very guilty bundled the child (and daffodils) into the back of the car and drove off. The look of shame on the parents face clearly knew what their child was doing was wrong. . It would be interesting to see how different the response to this story would have been if the parents had been allowing their children to steal sweets from the supermarket rather than flowers from a park.

Good on you, now I can sleep safe at night.

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote: It is important for the police to start alienating the general public from an early age, which helps to instill a "them and us" mentality. That said the response was a bit heavy handed - the officers could have just reminded the parents that harvesting flowers in a public park is stealing and moved them along, instead of racing to the scene with lights and sirens, arresting the young girls, handcuffing them and throwing them in the cells.... - LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... Security word: bird-wish

LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... That's right cover the ground in signage then there will be no room for any flowers. With people like you two it's no wonder this country is going slightly bonkers!!! The kids were in the wrong, the parents were in the wrong BUT the Councillor could have taken them to one side to have a quiet word rather than wasting our tax and calling the police. Security work gold-soil.......LOL

Oh so the councillor should have just casually walked up to a woman in the park and called her a bad mother? Even the police didn't dare do that, which is why they pointed out the children were committing a criminal offence, which is where the problem has arisen. security word: boat-dark

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote: It is important for the police to start alienating the general public from an early age, which helps to instill a "them and us" mentality. That said the response was a bit heavy handed - the officers could have just reminded the parents that harvesting flowers in a public park is stealing and moved them along, instead of racing to the scene with lights and sirens, arresting the young girls, handcuffing them and throwing them in the cells.... - LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... Security word: bird-wish

LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... That's right cover the ground in signage then there will be no room for any flowers. With people like you two it's no wonder this country is going slightly bonkers!!! The kids were in the wrong, the parents were in the wrong BUT the Councillor could have taken them to one side to have a quiet word rather than wasting our tax and calling the police. Security work gold-soil.......LOL

Oh so the councillor should have just casually walked up to a woman in the park and called her a bad mother? Even the police didn't dare do that, which is why they pointed out the children were committing a criminal offence, which is where the problem has arisen. security word: boat-dark

At what point did I say she was a bad mother? I simply stated that both the parents and the children were at fault. I also said was that the Councillor could have walked up to the parents and told them politely that destroying the flower beds was a criminal offence and if they didn't stop doing it he would have to call the police. The police could then have dealt with investigating more serious incidents such as my 87 year old grandmothers recent burglary.

LilliputMum1 wrote:
As one of the parents in question, I know that there were only 20 daffodils or so.

We were watching our children, but they were also running freely among the flowers, a few yards away. They were enjoying themselves on a beautiful spring morning.

When I said that "if someone had told us" - I was actually referring to the 'crime' - I didn't know that what they were doing was wrong. Perhaps better public signage or information would have helped here. I picked daffodils and daisies as a child and did not know that it was now illegal. Of course I would not have allowed this if I had known.

Of course, had Councillor Adams approached us and informed us, we would have been aware wouldn't we - and of course we would have apologised and stopped the children.

Gooby wrote:

LilliputMum1 wrote: As one of the parents in question, I know that there were only 20 daffodils or so. We were watching our children, but they were also running freely among the flowers, a few yards away. They were enjoying themselves on a beautiful spring morning. When I said that "if someone had told us" - I was actually referring to the 'crime' - I didn't know that what they were doing was wrong. Perhaps better public signage or information would have helped here. I picked daffodils and daisies as a child and did not know that it was now illegal. Of course I would not have allowed this if I had known. Of course, had Councillor Adams approached us and informed us, we would have been aware wouldn't we - and of course we would have apologised and stopped the children.

Lilliputmum, There will be many selfish and spiteful idiots who will believe that the value of a flower is to die slowly in the ground while they watch. The true value is to bring a smile to the face of a child. I dont care if they end up in a vase in your house (I hope they did) and I hope your children enjoy the next flowers they pick for Mum. No amount of flowers in any park in all of dorset is worth this kind of upset to a child. Councillor Adams has shown himself to be a gutless arse willing to use the title of councilor to get a reaction from the police and upset children. Shame. As usual the modern police force has shown themself as pointless bullies.

mike97 wrote:

Gooby wrote:

LilliputMum1 wrote: As one of the parents in question, I know that there were only 20 daffodils or so. We were watching our children, but they were also running freely among the flowers, a few yards away. They were enjoying themselves on a beautiful spring morning. When I said that "if someone had told us" - I was actually referring to the 'crime' - I didn't know that what they were doing was wrong. Perhaps better public signage or information would have helped here. I picked daffodils and daisies as a child and did not know that it was now illegal. Of course I would not have allowed this if I had known. Of course, had Councillor Adams approached us and informed us, we would have been aware wouldn't we - and of course we would have apologised and stopped the children.

Lilliputmum, There will be many selfish and spiteful idiots who will believe that the value of a flower is to die slowly in the ground while they watch. The true value is to bring a smile to the face of a child. I dont care if they end up in a vase in your house (I hope they did) and I hope your children enjoy the next flowers they pick for Mum. No amount of flowers in any park in all of dorset is worth this kind of upset to a child. Councillor Adams has shown himself to be a gutless arse willing to use the title of councilor to get a reaction from the police and upset children. Shame. As usual the modern police force has shown themself as pointless bullies.

You have now shown your true colours, swearing and being ultra defensive. Always someone elses fault!No wonder the children did what they did, there is no discipline anymore.

Gooby wrote:

mike97 wrote:

Gooby wrote:

LilliputMum1 wrote: As one of the parents in question, I know that there were only 20 daffodils or so. We were watching our children, but they were also running freely among the flowers, a few yards away. They were enjoying themselves on a beautiful spring morning. When I said that "if someone had told us" - I was actually referring to the 'crime' - I didn't know that what they were doing was wrong. Perhaps better public signage or information would have helped here. I picked daffodils and daisies as a child and did not know that it was now illegal. Of course I would not have allowed this if I had known. Of course, had Councillor Adams approached us and informed us, we would have been aware wouldn't we - and of course we would have apologised and stopped the children.

Lilliputmum, There will be many selfish and spiteful idiots who will believe that the value of a flower is to die slowly in the ground while they watch. The true value is to bring a smile to the face of a child. I dont care if they end up in a vase in your house (I hope they did) and I hope your children enjoy the next flowers they pick for Mum. No amount of flowers in any park in all of dorset is worth this kind of upset to a child. Councillor Adams has shown himself to be a gutless arse willing to use the title of councilor to get a reaction from the police and upset children. Shame. As usual the modern police force has shown themself as pointless bullies.

You have now shown your true colours, swearing and being ultra defensive. Always someone elses fault!No wonder the children did what they did, there is no discipline anymore.

I hope I have shown my colours - Please tell me, what should we do to further enforce "discipline" upon a 6 year old girl. Perhaps you would prefer it if the girls were arrested? I would rather use the word "Arse" and offend you than upset a small girl for picking mummy a bunch of flowers. If Adams had any spine or honour he would had had a quiet word with a parent.

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote: It is important for the police to start alienating the general public from an early age, which helps to instill a "them and us" mentality. That said the response was a bit heavy handed - the officers could have just reminded the parents that harvesting flowers in a public park is stealing and moved them along, instead of racing to the scene with lights and sirens, arresting the young girls, handcuffing them and throwing them in the cells.... - LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... Security word: bird-wish

LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... That's right cover the ground in signage then there will be no room for any flowers. With people like you two it's no wonder this country is going slightly bonkers!!! The kids were in the wrong, the parents were in the wrong BUT the Councillor could have taken them to one side to have a quiet word rather than wasting our tax and calling the police. Security work gold-soil.......LOL

Oh so the councillor should have just casually walked up to a woman in the park and called her a bad mother? Even the police didn't dare do that, which is why they pointed out the children were committing a criminal offence, which is where the problem has arisen. security word: boat-dark

At what point did I say she was a bad mother? I simply stated that both the parents and the children were at fault. I also said was that the Councillor could have walked up to the parents and told them politely that destroying the flower beds was a criminal offence and if they didn't stop doing it he would have to call the police. The police could then have dealt with investigating more serious incidents such as my 87 year old grandmothers recent burglary.

You didn't, but that would be the implication - a man walks up to a woman he's never met "excuse me, but if you don't stop your children from picking the flowers I'm going to call the police".
I can imagine the reply to be something along the lines of "Who the hell are you to tell me what my children can and can't pick?"
Security word: line-warn

SARAH6816 wrote:
So during the 20-minutes that the family was being observed, had it not occurred to the parents what was going on? It's obvious the flowers are there for everyone to enjoy - not for an ill-mannered family to destroy. And now they've run crying to the press, so we all know how appalling their parenting skills are. Unbelievable.

mike97 wrote:

Gooby wrote:

mike97 wrote:

Gooby wrote:

LilliputMum1 wrote: As one of the parents in question, I know that there were only 20 daffodils or so. We were watching our children, but they were also running freely among the flowers, a few yards away. They were enjoying themselves on a beautiful spring morning. When I said that "if someone had told us" - I was actually referring to the 'crime' - I didn't know that what they were doing was wrong. Perhaps better public signage or information would have helped here. I picked daffodils and daisies as a child and did not know that it was now illegal. Of course I would not have allowed this if I had known. Of course, had Councillor Adams approached us and informed us, we would have been aware wouldn't we - and of course we would have apologised and stopped the children.

Lilliputmum, There will be many selfish and spiteful idiots who will believe that the value of a flower is to die slowly in the ground while they watch. The true value is to bring a smile to the face of a child. I dont care if they end up in a vase in your house (I hope they did) and I hope your children enjoy the next flowers they pick for Mum. No amount of flowers in any park in all of dorset is worth this kind of upset to a child. Councillor Adams has shown himself to be a gutless arse willing to use the title of councilor to get a reaction from the police and upset children. Shame. As usual the modern police force has shown themself as pointless bullies.

You have now shown your true colours, swearing and being ultra defensive. Always someone elses fault!No wonder the children did what they did, there is no discipline anymore.

I hope I have shown my colours - Please tell me, what should we do to further enforce "discipline" upon a 6 year old girl. Perhaps you would prefer it if the girls were arrested? I would rather use the word "Arse" and offend you than upset a small girl for picking mummy a bunch of flowers. If Adams had any spine or honour he would had had a quiet word with a parent.

Parents should not allow their children to pick 70 - 80 daffodils in a public park. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT!

I am sure you could pick up some tips at parenting class. I beleive there are night classes at Poole College

Gooby wrote:

mike97 wrote:

Gooby wrote:

mike97 wrote:

Gooby wrote:

LilliputMum1 wrote: As one of the parents in question, I know that there were only 20 daffodils or so. We were watching our children, but they were also running freely among the flowers, a few yards away. They were enjoying themselves on a beautiful spring morning. When I said that "if someone had told us" - I was actually referring to the 'crime' - I didn't know that what they were doing was wrong. Perhaps better public signage or information would have helped here. I picked daffodils and daisies as a child and did not know that it was now illegal. Of course I would not have allowed this if I had known. Of course, had Councillor Adams approached us and informed us, we would have been aware wouldn't we - and of course we would have apologised and stopped the children.

Lilliputmum, There will be many selfish and spiteful idiots who will believe that the value of a flower is to die slowly in the ground while they watch. The true value is to bring a smile to the face of a child. I dont care if they end up in a vase in your house (I hope they did) and I hope your children enjoy the next flowers they pick for Mum. No amount of flowers in any park in all of dorset is worth this kind of upset to a child. Councillor Adams has shown himself to be a gutless arse willing to use the title of councilor to get a reaction from the police and upset children. Shame. As usual the modern police force has shown themself as pointless bullies.

You have now shown your true colours, swearing and being ultra defensive. Always someone elses fault!No wonder the children did what they did, there is no discipline anymore.

I hope I have shown my colours - Please tell me, what should we do to further enforce "discipline" upon a 6 year old girl. Perhaps you would prefer it if the girls were arrested? I would rather use the word "Arse" and offend you than upset a small girl for picking mummy a bunch of flowers. If Adams had any spine or honour he would had had a quiet word with a parent.

Parents should not allow their children to pick 70 - 80 daffodils in a public park. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT! I am sure you could pick up some tips at parenting class. I beleive there are night classes at Poole College

Now that is interesting because the mother of the children has said "no more than 20 flowers" Let me get this right - your deep love for flowers means that you are willing to stand behind the behaviour of a man who thinks the best use of police time is to threaten toddlers / children with arrest. Right or wrong -they are flowers and Mr Addams reaction is excessive and directed at frightened children. If thinking that this kind of action is disgraceful then I will head off to parenting class. Please respond to my previous point, please tell me how we should further enforce "discipline" on 3 little girls aged 4,6 and 10? Would you prefer they were arrested? Perhaps some time in the cells? We could involve a social worker? What kind of dredful society do we live in where we are willing to criminalise the picking of flowers by a girl and you are ready to stand up and say that this is right. I am willing to be a terrible parent for my point of view but I am absolutely sure beyond any doubt in my mind that you are the most pointless man ever to waste oxygen.

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote: It is important for the police to start alienating the general public from an early age, which helps to instill a "them and us" mentality. That said the response was a bit heavy handed - the officers could have just reminded the parents that harvesting flowers in a public park is stealing and moved them along, instead of racing to the scene with lights and sirens, arresting the young girls, handcuffing them and throwing them in the cells.... - LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... Security word: bird-wish

LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... That's right cover the ground in signage then there will be no room for any flowers. With people like you two it's no wonder this country is going slightly bonkers!!! The kids were in the wrong, the parents were in the wrong BUT the Councillor could have taken them to one side to have a quiet word rather than wasting our tax and calling the police. Security work gold-soil.......LOL

Oh so the councillor should have just casually walked up to a woman in the park and called her a bad mother? Even the police didn't dare do that, which is why they pointed out the children were committing a criminal offence, which is where the problem has arisen. security word: boat-dark

At what point did I say she was a bad mother? I simply stated that both the parents and the children were at fault. I also said was that the Councillor could have walked up to the parents and told them politely that destroying the flower beds was a criminal offence and if they didn't stop doing it he would have to call the police. The police could then have dealt with investigating more serious incidents such as my 87 year old grandmothers recent burglary.

You didn't, but that would be the implication - a man walks up to a woman he's never met "excuse me, but if you don't stop your children from picking the flowers I'm going to call the police".
I can imagine the reply to be something along the lines of "Who the hell are you to tell me what my children can and can't pick?"
Security word: line-warn

Perhaps a simple,
"Excuse me, do you realise your children are picking flowers? That is actually prohibited in this park and it would be appreciated if you would stop. Thank you" This would be a reasoned and reasonable responce.

Instead , you could stand there and watch, call the police, waste police time over flowers in a park. I am sure the police had nothing better to do and if they didnt then I think the police cuts have not been deep enough.

Now the interesting thing about this is that the police would not release details of a complaint to the public. Cllr Adams must have been so proud of his actions he has given details regarding his conduct. He is proud of calling the police on little girls (one still a toddler!) that he has given out the details.

mike97 wrote:

Gooby wrote:

mike97 wrote:

Gooby wrote:

mike97 wrote:

Gooby wrote:

LilliputMum1 wrote: As one of the parents in question, I know that there were only 20 daffodils or so. We were watching our children, but they were also running freely among the flowers, a few yards away. They were enjoying themselves on a beautiful spring morning. When I said that "if someone had told us" - I was actually referring to the 'crime' - I didn't know that what they were doing was wrong. Perhaps better public signage or information would have helped here. I picked daffodils and daisies as a child and did not know that it was now illegal. Of course I would not have allowed this if I had known. Of course, had Councillor Adams approached us and informed us, we would have been aware wouldn't we - and of course we would have apologised and stopped the children.

Lilliputmum, There will be many selfish and spiteful idiots who will believe that the value of a flower is to die slowly in the ground while they watch. The true value is to bring a smile to the face of a child. I dont care if they end up in a vase in your house (I hope they did) and I hope your children enjoy the next flowers they pick for Mum. No amount of flowers in any park in all of dorset is worth this kind of upset to a child. Councillor Adams has shown himself to be a gutless arse willing to use the title of councilor to get a reaction from the police and upset children. Shame. As usual the modern police force has shown themself as pointless bullies.

You have now shown your true colours, swearing and being ultra defensive. Always someone elses fault!No wonder the children did what they did, there is no discipline anymore.

I hope I have shown my colours - Please tell me, what should we do to further enforce "discipline" upon a 6 year old girl. Perhaps you would prefer it if the girls were arrested? I would rather use the word "Arse" and offend you than upset a small girl for picking mummy a bunch of flowers. If Adams had any spine or honour he would had had a quiet word with a parent.

Parents should not allow their children to pick 70 - 80 daffodils in a public park. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT! I am sure you could pick up some tips at parenting class. I beleive there are night classes at Poole College

Now that is interesting because the mother of the children has said "no more than 20 flowers" Let me get this right - your deep love for flowers means that you are willing to stand behind the behaviour of a man who thinks the best use of police time is to threaten toddlers / children with arrest. Right or wrong -they are flowers and Mr Addams reaction is excessive and directed at frightened children. If thinking that this kind of action is disgraceful then I will head off to parenting class. Please respond to my previous point, please tell me how we should further enforce "discipline" on 3 little girls aged 4,6 and 10? Would you prefer they were arrested? Perhaps some time in the cells? We could involve a social worker? What kind of dredful society do we live in where we are willing to criminalise the picking of flowers by a girl and you are ready to stand up and say that this is right. I am willing to be a terrible parent for my point of view but I am absolutely sure beyond any doubt in my mind that you are the most pointless man ever to waste oxygen.

Although I would love to respond to your many pointless comments above, it is obvious that you are just getting a kick out of having an outburst on this forum, so I will only respond to the point you requested out of courtesy.

The parents should have been watching their children and as soon as they saw them even "playing in the daffodils" (as stated in the Daily Mail report), they should have explained that the flowers should not be trampled or picked. I do not expect children of this age to be arrested, but the parents should be sternly spoken to. END OF!

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote: It is important for the police to start alienating the general public from an early age, which helps to instill a "them and us" mentality. That said the response was a bit heavy handed - the officers could have just reminded the parents that harvesting flowers in a public park is stealing and moved them along, instead of racing to the scene with lights and sirens, arresting the young girls, handcuffing them and throwing them in the cells.... - LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... Security word: bird-wish

LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... That's right cover the ground in signage then there will be no room for any flowers. With people like you two it's no wonder this country is going slightly bonkers!!! The kids were in the wrong, the parents were in the wrong BUT the Councillor could have taken them to one side to have a quiet word rather than wasting our tax and calling the police. Security work gold-soil.......LOL

Oh so the councillor should have just casually walked up to a woman in the park and called her a bad mother? Even the police didn't dare do that, which is why they pointed out the children were committing a criminal offence, which is where the problem has arisen. security word: boat-dark

At what point did I say she was a bad mother? I simply stated that both the parents and the children were at fault. I also said was that the Councillor could have walked up to the parents and told them politely that destroying the flower beds was a criminal offence and if they didn't stop doing it he would have to call the police. The police could then have dealt with investigating more serious incidents such as my 87 year old grandmothers recent burglary.

You didn't, but that would be the implication - a man walks up to a woman he's never met "excuse me, but if you don't stop your children from picking the flowers I'm going to call the police".
I can imagine the reply to be something along the lines of "Who the hell are you to tell me what my children can and can't pick?"
Security word: line-warn

Perhaps a simple,
"Excuse me, do you realise your children are picking flowers? That is actually prohibited in this park and it would be appreciated if you would stop. Thank you" This would be a reasoned and reasonable responce.

Instead , you could stand there and watch, call the police, waste police time over flowers in a park. I am sure the police had nothing better to do and if they didnt then I think the police cuts have not been deep enough.

Now the interesting thing about this is that the police would not release details of a complaint to the public. Cllr Adams must have been so proud of his actions he has given details regarding his conduct. He is proud of calling the police on little girls (one still a toddler!) that he has given out the details.

It doesn't matter how simply you say it, it amounts to the same thing - questioning a woman's parenting, which never seems to go down well.
Some woman on here even seems to think there needs to be signs everywhere telling people they shouldn't steal the flowers, so it seems unlikely she would stop her children enjoying themselves just because some busybody asked her to.
Security word: date-step

rodoftruth wrote:
SOCIAL SERVICES MUST INVESTIGATE THIS MOTHER ANDsome of the people posting here who think this is trivial.

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote: It is important for the police to start alienating the general public from an early age, which helps to instill a "them and us" mentality. That said the response was a bit heavy handed - the officers could have just reminded the parents that harvesting flowers in a public park is stealing and moved them along, instead of racing to the scene with lights and sirens, arresting the young girls, handcuffing them and throwing them in the cells.... - LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... Security word: bird-wish

LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... That's right cover the ground in signage then there will be no room for any flowers. With people like you two it's no wonder this country is going slightly bonkers!!! The kids were in the wrong, the parents were in the wrong BUT the Councillor could have taken them to one side to have a quiet word rather than wasting our tax and calling the police. Security work gold-soil.......LOL

Oh so the councillor should have just casually walked up to a woman in the park and called her a bad mother? Even the police didn't dare do that, which is why they pointed out the children were committing a criminal offence, which is where the problem has arisen. security word: boat-dark

At what point did I say she was a bad mother? I simply stated that both the parents and the children were at fault. I also said was that the Councillor could have walked up to the parents and told them politely that destroying the flower beds was a criminal offence and if they didn't stop doing it he would have to call the police. The police could then have dealt with investigating more serious incidents such as my 87 year old grandmothers recent burglary.

You didn't, but that would be the implication - a man walks up to a woman he's never met "excuse me, but if you don't stop your children from picking the flowers I'm going to call the police".
I can imagine the reply to be something along the lines of "Who the hell are you to tell me what my children can and can't pick?"
Security word: line-warn

Perhaps a simple,
"Excuse me, do you realise your children are picking flowers? That is actually prohibited in this park and it would be appreciated if you would stop. Thank you" This would be a reasoned and reasonable responce.

Instead , you could stand there and watch, call the police, waste police time over flowers in a park. I am sure the police had nothing better to do and if they didnt then I think the police cuts have not been deep enough.

Now the interesting thing about this is that the police would not release details of a complaint to the public. Cllr Adams must have been so proud of his actions he has given details regarding his conduct. He is proud of calling the police on little girls (one still a toddler!) that he has given out the details.

It doesn't matter how simply you say it, it amounts to the same thing - questioning a woman's parenting, which never seems to go down well.
Some woman on here even seems to think there needs to be signs everywhere telling people they shouldn't steal the flowers, so it seems unlikely she would stop her children enjoying themselves just because some busybody asked her to.
Security word: date-step

I would love to know how politely pointing out that picking flowers is prohibited is "questioning her parenting". I am sorry but I am unable to make that link.

If, upon a polite request to stop then involving the police could be justified.

I am still strugling to understand a mentality that would criminalise young girls for picking flowers and even worse someone who would stand behind these actions.

justmyopinion1 wrote:
I bet if we all think back to when we were kids most of us have done this at least once, whether it be one flower or ten. Mother's day, mother's birthday and not a penny between us kids. My mum used to love her bunch of flowers we picked for her.

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote: It is important for the police to start alienating the general public from an early age, which helps to instill a "them and us" mentality. That said the response was a bit heavy handed - the officers could have just reminded the parents that harvesting flowers in a public park is stealing and moved them along, instead of racing to the scene with lights and sirens, arresting the young girls, handcuffing them and throwing them in the cells.... - LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... Security word: bird-wish

LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... That's right cover the ground in signage then there will be no room for any flowers. With people like you two it's no wonder this country is going slightly bonkers!!! The kids were in the wrong, the parents were in the wrong BUT the Councillor could have taken them to one side to have a quiet word rather than wasting our tax and calling the police. Security work gold-soil.......LOL

Oh so the councillor should have just casually walked up to a woman in the park and called her a bad mother? Even the police didn't dare do that, which is why they pointed out the children were committing a criminal offence, which is where the problem has arisen. security word: boat-dark

At what point did I say she was a bad mother? I simply stated that both the parents and the children were at fault. I also said was that the Councillor could have walked up to the parents and told them politely that destroying the flower beds was a criminal offence and if they didn't stop doing it he would have to call the police. The police could then have dealt with investigating more serious incidents such as my 87 year old grandmothers recent burglary.

You didn't, but that would be the implication - a man walks up to a woman he's never met "excuse me, but if you don't stop your children from picking the flowers I'm going to call the police".
I can imagine the reply to be something along the lines of "Who the hell are you to tell me what my children can and can't pick?"
Security word: line-warn

Perhaps a simple,
"Excuse me, do you realise your children are picking flowers? That is actually prohibited in this park and it would be appreciated if you would stop. Thank you" This would be a reasoned and reasonable responce.

Instead , you could stand there and watch, call the police, waste police time over flowers in a park. I am sure the police had nothing better to do and if they didnt then I think the police cuts have not been deep enough.

Now the interesting thing about this is that the police would not release details of a complaint to the public. Cllr Adams must have been so proud of his actions he has given details regarding his conduct. He is proud of calling the police on little girls (one still a toddler!) that he has given out the details.

It doesn't matter how simply you say it, it amounts to the same thing - questioning a woman's parenting, which never seems to go down well.
Some woman on here even seems to think there needs to be signs everywhere telling people they shouldn't steal the flowers, so it seems unlikely she would stop her children enjoying themselves just because some busybody asked her to.
Security word: date-step

I would love to know how politely pointing out that picking flowers is prohibited is "questioning her parenting". I am sorry but I am unable to make that link.

If, upon a polite request to stop then involving the police could be justified.

I am still strugling to understand a mentality that would criminalise young girls for picking flowers and even worse someone who would stand behind these actions.

It's not difficult - "excuse me, do you realise that what you're letting your children do is wrong?" Do you see? However you phrase it you're talking about a man telling a woman that she should stop her children doing something that she's already sanctioned.
It's illegal to take something that doesn't belong to you, and no consolation that the thieves are children, regardless of whether or not they realised that what they were doing was wrong - it is the parents' responsibility to teach them that, and failing that the police's responsibility to uphold the law, which is what happened here.
Security word: cost-push

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote: It is important for the police to start alienating the general public from an early age, which helps to instill a "them and us" mentality. That said the response was a bit heavy handed - the officers could have just reminded the parents that harvesting flowers in a public park is stealing and moved them along, instead of racing to the scene with lights and sirens, arresting the young girls, handcuffing them and throwing them in the cells.... - LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... Security word: bird-wish

LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... That's right cover the ground in signage then there will be no room for any flowers. With people like you two it's no wonder this country is going slightly bonkers!!! The kids were in the wrong, the parents were in the wrong BUT the Councillor could have taken them to one side to have a quiet word rather than wasting our tax and calling the police. Security work gold-soil.......LOL

Oh so the councillor should have just casually walked up to a woman in the park and called her a bad mother? Even the police didn't dare do that, which is why they pointed out the children were committing a criminal offence, which is where the problem has arisen. security word: boat-dark

At what point did I say she was a bad mother? I simply stated that both the parents and the children were at fault. I also said was that the Councillor could have walked up to the parents and told them politely that destroying the flower beds was a criminal offence and if they didn't stop doing it he would have to call the police. The police could then have dealt with investigating more serious incidents such as my 87 year old grandmothers recent burglary.

You didn't, but that would be the implication - a man walks up to a woman he's never met "excuse me, but if you don't stop your children from picking the flowers I'm going to call the police".
I can imagine the reply to be something along the lines of "Who the hell are you to tell me what my children can and can't pick?"
Security word: line-warn

Perhaps a simple,
"Excuse me, do you realise your children are picking flowers? That is actually prohibited in this park and it would be appreciated if you would stop. Thank you" This would be a reasoned and reasonable responce.

Instead , you could stand there and watch, call the police, waste police time over flowers in a park. I am sure the police had nothing better to do and if they didnt then I think the police cuts have not been deep enough.

Now the interesting thing about this is that the police would not release details of a complaint to the public. Cllr Adams must have been so proud of his actions he has given details regarding his conduct. He is proud of calling the police on little girls (one still a toddler!) that he has given out the details.

It doesn't matter how simply you say it, it amounts to the same thing - questioning a woman's parenting, which never seems to go down well.
Some woman on here even seems to think there needs to be signs everywhere telling people they shouldn't steal the flowers, so it seems unlikely she would stop her children enjoying themselves just because some busybody asked her to.
Security word: date-step

I would love to know how politely pointing out that picking flowers is prohibited is "questioning her parenting". I am sorry but I am unable to make that link.

If, upon a polite request to stop then involving the police could be justified.

I am still strugling to understand a mentality that would criminalise young girls for picking flowers and even worse someone who would stand behind these actions.

It's not difficult - "excuse me, do you realise that what you're letting your children do is wrong?" Do you see? However you phrase it you're talking about a man telling a woman that she should stop her children doing something that she's already sanctioned.
It's illegal to take something that doesn't belong to you, and no consolation that the thieves are children, regardless of whether or not they realised that what they were doing was wrong - it is the parents' responsibility to teach them that, and failing that the police's responsibility to uphold the law, which is what happened here.
Security word: cost-push

It seems you lack the simple imagination and basic diplomacy that this disgraceful and gutless Mr. Adams suffers from. In your case it may be forgivable but not some a councilor who should have a shred of decency and diplomacy. If you are unable to word a simple request to not pick flowers that isnt offensive then you really need some help.

Too many "people" hide behind the cop out phrase "it is illegal". I am 99% sure that this law was not enacted into our nanny state to criminalise a 4 year old girl and if that was the intent we should lock up our politicans. Standing behind a law that is used to threaten children is DISGRACEFUL and you should be ashamed of yourself.

If you demand that this is the case, I demand that if your child, friends child, grandchild, etc etc, were to pick a bunch of flowers for yourself, your wife, partner, spouse, friend, relative etc etc, you should drive that child to the police station and demand that the child be charged with theft.

MrsDJD wrote:

rodoftruth wrote:
SOCIAL SERVICES MUST INVESTIGATE THIS MOTHER ANDsome of the people posting here who think this is trivial.

Oh my goodness i hope this is a joke/sarcastic comment

honest_paul wrote:
Gobby and Boringfre! Will you please STOP pressing the quote button or are you just trying to wind everyone up! Forcing everyone to reread your earlier ramblings won't make any of it any better or any more relevant.

rodoftruth wrote:
No it's not a joke. The social services need to see if this mother is ticking right.
Everyone knows you don't go to a park and pick all the flowers - she then says there was not a sign - therefore she is retarded. Children should be taken into care. It is so simple.

honest_paul wrote:
You've both got your opinions but your constant need to "quote" everything is burying other valuable comments from other posters! No respect for other people's opinions it seems.
Security word: little-hitler

Phixer wrote:
"Mrs Errington refuted the suggestion they encouraged the flower picking and said they would have stopped the girls taking them if someone had brought it to their attention."


So, you admit to not being in control in a public place of three children aged 4, 6 & 10. Don't complain if social services pay you a visit.

neesdon wrote:
Honest Paul and Bournefre I believe something is going on in the Triangle that might interest you. Quiz night for Condemcloset bores.

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote: It is important for the police to start alienating the general public from an early age, which helps to instill a "them and us" mentality. That said the response was a bit heavy handed - the officers could have just reminded the parents that harvesting flowers in a public park is stealing and moved them along, instead of racing to the scene with lights and sirens, arresting the young girls, handcuffing them and throwing them in the cells.... - LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... Security word: bird-wish

LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... That's right cover the ground in signage then there will be no room for any flowers. With people like you two it's no wonder this country is going slightly bonkers!!! The kids were in the wrong, the parents were in the wrong BUT the Councillor could have taken them to one side to have a quiet word rather than wasting our tax and calling the police. Security work gold-soil.......LOL

Oh so the councillor should have just casually walked up to a woman in the park and called her a bad mother? Even the police didn't dare do that, which is why they pointed out the children were committing a criminal offence, which is where the problem has arisen. security word: boat-dark

At what point did I say she was a bad mother? I simply stated that both the parents and the children were at fault. I also said was that the Councillor could have walked up to the parents and told them politely that destroying the flower beds was a criminal offence and if they didn't stop doing it he would have to call the police. The police could then have dealt with investigating more serious incidents such as my 87 year old grandmothers recent burglary.

You didn't, but that would be the implication - a man walks up to a woman he's never met "excuse me, but if you don't stop your children from picking the flowers I'm going to call the police". I can imagine the reply to be something along the lines of "Who the hell are you to tell me what my children can and can't pick?" Security word: line-warn

Perhaps a simple, "Excuse me, do you realise your children are picking flowers? That is actually prohibited in this park and it would be appreciated if you would stop. Thank you" This would be a reasoned and reasonable responce. Instead , you could stand there and watch, call the police, waste police time over flowers in a park. I am sure the police had nothing better to do and if they didnt then I think the police cuts have not been deep enough. Now the interesting thing about this is that the police would not release details of a complaint to the public. Cllr Adams must have been so proud of his actions he has given details regarding his conduct. He is proud of calling the police on little girls (one still a toddler!) that he has given out the details.

It doesn't matter how simply you say it, it amounts to the same thing - questioning a woman's parenting, which never seems to go down well. Some woman on here even seems to think there needs to be signs everywhere telling people they shouldn't steal the flowers, so it seems unlikely she would stop her children enjoying themselves just because some busybody asked her to. Security word: date-step

I would love to know how politely pointing out that picking flowers is prohibited is "questioning her parenting". I am sorry but I am unable to make that link. If, upon a polite request to stop then involving the police could be justified. I am still strugling to understand a mentality that would criminalise young girls for picking flowers and even worse someone who would stand behind these actions.

It's not difficult - "excuse me, do you realise that what you're letting your children do is wrong?" Do you see? However you phrase it you're talking about a man telling a woman that she should stop her children doing something that she's already sanctioned. It's illegal to take something that doesn't belong to you, and no consolation that the thieves are children, regardless of whether or not they realised that what they were doing was wrong - it is the parents' responsibility to teach them that, and failing that the police's responsibility to uphold the law, which is what happened here. Security word: cost-push

It seems you lack the simple imagination and basic diplomacy that this disgraceful and gutless Mr. Adams suffers from. In your case it may be forgivable but not some a councilor who should have a shred of decency and diplomacy. If you are unable to word a simple request to not pick flowers that isnt offensive then you really need some help. Too many "people" hide behind the cop out phrase "it is illegal". I am 99% sure that this law was not enacted into our nanny state to criminalise a 4 year old girl and if that was the intent we should lock up our politicans. Standing behind a law that is used to threaten children is DISGRACEFUL and you should be ashamed of yourself. If you demand that this is the case, I demand that if your child, friends child, grandchild, etc etc, were to pick a bunch of flowers for yourself, your wife, partner, spouse, friend, relative etc etc, you should drive that child to the police station and demand that the child be charged with theft.

Given that little outburst it's not as if you can take the moral high ground here. We're not talking about one or two flowers here, we're talking about a woman taking her children out to harvest "70 - 80" of them. There are no signs on the beach saying you can't "steal" the sand and i doubt you'd get police officers asking you not to take it away with you between your toes, but if I turned up in a lorry and started filling it up and I would expect to get told off, regardless of whether or not I had a small child with me. Security word: song-room

The Seasider wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote: It is important for the police to start alienating the general public from an early age, which helps to instill a "them and us" mentality. That said the response was a bit heavy handed - the officers could have just reminded the parents that harvesting flowers in a public park is stealing and moved them along, instead of racing to the scene with lights and sirens, arresting the young girls, handcuffing them and throwing them in the cells.... - LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... Security word: bird-wish

LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... That's right cover the ground in signage then there will be no room for any flowers. With people like you two it's no wonder this country is going slightly bonkers!!! The kids were in the wrong, the parents were in the wrong BUT the Councillor could have taken them to one side to have a quiet word rather than wasting our tax and calling the police. Security work gold-soil.......LOL

Oh so the councillor should have just casually walked up to a woman in the park and called her a bad mother? Even the police didn't dare do that, which is why they pointed out the children were committing a criminal offence, which is where the problem has arisen. security word: boat-dark

At what point did I say she was a bad mother? I simply stated that both the parents and the children were at fault. I also said was that the Councillor could have walked up to the parents and told them politely that destroying the flower beds was a criminal offence and if they didn't stop doing it he would have to call the police. The police could then have dealt with investigating more serious incidents such as my 87 year old grandmothers recent burglary.

You didn't, but that would be the implication - a man walks up to a woman he's never met "excuse me, but if you don't stop your children from picking the flowers I'm going to call the police". I can imagine the reply to be something along the lines of "Who the hell are you to tell me what my children can and can't pick?" Security word: line-warn

Perhaps a simple, "Excuse me, do you realise your children are picking flowers? That is actually prohibited in this park and it would be appreciated if you would stop. Thank you" This would be a reasoned and reasonable responce. Instead , you could stand there and watch, call the police, waste police time over flowers in a park. I am sure the police had nothing better to do and if they didnt then I think the police cuts have not been deep enough. Now the interesting thing about this is that the police would not release details of a complaint to the public. Cllr Adams must have been so proud of his actions he has given details regarding his conduct. He is proud of calling the police on little girls (one still a toddler!) that he has given out the details.

It doesn't matter how simply you say it, it amounts to the same thing - questioning a woman's parenting, which never seems to go down well. Some woman on here even seems to think there needs to be signs everywhere telling people they shouldn't steal the flowers, so it seems unlikely she would stop her children enjoying themselves just because some busybody asked her to. Security word: date-step

I would love to know how politely pointing out that picking flowers is prohibited is "questioning her parenting". I am sorry but I am unable to make that link. If, upon a polite request to stop then involving the police could be justified. I am still strugling to understand a mentality that would criminalise young girls for picking flowers and even worse someone who would stand behind these actions.

It's not difficult - "excuse me, do you realise that what you're letting your children do is wrong?" Do you see? However you phrase it you're talking about a man telling a woman that she should stop her children doing something that she's already sanctioned. It's illegal to take something that doesn't belong to you, and no consolation that the thieves are children, regardless of whether or not they realised that what they were doing was wrong - it is the parents' responsibility to teach them that, and failing that the police's responsibility to uphold the law, which is what happened here. Security word: cost-push

It seems you lack the simple imagination and basic diplomacy that this disgraceful and gutless Mr. Adams suffers from. In your case it may be forgivable but not some a councilor who should have a shred of decency and diplomacy. If you are unable to word a simple request to not pick flowers that isnt offensive then you really need some help. Too many "people" hide behind the cop out phrase "it is illegal". I am 99% sure that this law was not enacted into our nanny state to criminalise a 4 year old girl and if that was the intent we should lock up our politicans. Standing behind a law that is used to threaten children is DISGRACEFUL and you should be ashamed of yourself. If you demand that this is the case, I demand that if your child, friends child, grandchild, etc etc, were to pick a bunch of flowers for yourself, your wife, partner, spouse, friend, relative etc etc, you should drive that child to the police station and demand that the child be charged with theft.

Given that little outburst it's not as if you can take the moral high ground here. We're not talking about one or two flowers here, we're talking about a woman taking her children out to harvest "70 - 80" of them. There are no signs on the beach saying you can't "steal" the sand and i doubt you'd get police officers asking you not to take it away with you between your toes, but if I turned up in a lorry and started filling it up and I would expect to get told off, regardless of whether or not I had a small child with me. Security word: song-room

I just want to see what happens to the words when you quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote.
.
Wow, 150+ comments in a day. I guess we love our daff's. Now come on petals, lets all calm down. Best leaf it alone.

honest_paul wrote:

The Seasider wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote: It is important for the police to start alienating the general public from an early age, which helps to instill a "them and us" mentality. That said the response was a bit heavy handed - the officers could have just reminded the parents that harvesting flowers in a public park is stealing and moved them along, instead of racing to the scene with lights and sirens, arresting the young girls, handcuffing them and throwing them in the cells.... - LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... Security word: bird-wish

LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... That's right cover the ground in signage then there will be no room for any flowers. With people like you two it's no wonder this country is going slightly bonkers!!! The kids were in the wrong, the parents were in the wrong BUT the Councillor could have taken them to one side to have a quiet word rather than wasting our tax and calling the police. Security work gold-soil.......LOL

Oh so the councillor should have just casually walked up to a woman in the park and called her a bad mother? Even the police didn't dare do that, which is why they pointed out the children were committing a criminal offence, which is where the problem has arisen. security word: boat-dark

At what point did I say she was a bad mother? I simply stated that both the parents and the children were at fault. I also said was that the Councillor could have walked up to the parents and told them politely that destroying the flower beds was a criminal offence and if they didn't stop doing it he would have to call the police. The police could then have dealt with investigating more serious incidents such as my 87 year old grandmothers recent burglary.

You didn't, but that would be the implication - a man walks up to a woman he's never met "excuse me, but if you don't stop your children from picking the flowers I'm going to call the police". I can imagine the reply to be something along the lines of "Who the hell are you to tell me what my children can and can't pick?" Security word: line-warn

Perhaps a simple, "Excuse me, do you realise your children are picking flowers? That is actually prohibited in this park and it would be appreciated if you would stop. Thank you" This would be a reasoned and reasonable responce. Instead , you could stand there and watch, call the police, waste police time over flowers in a park. I am sure the police had nothing better to do and if they didnt then I think the police cuts have not been deep enough. Now the interesting thing about this is that the police would not release details of a complaint to the public. Cllr Adams must have been so proud of his actions he has given details regarding his conduct. He is proud of calling the police on little girls (one still a toddler!) that he has given out the details.

It doesn't matter how simply you say it, it amounts to the same thing - questioning a woman's parenting, which never seems to go down well. Some woman on here even seems to think there needs to be signs everywhere telling people they shouldn't steal the flowers, so it seems unlikely she would stop her children enjoying themselves just because some busybody asked her to. Security word: date-step

I would love to know how politely pointing out that picking flowers is prohibited is "questioning her parenting". I am sorry but I am unable to make that link. If, upon a polite request to stop then involving the police could be justified. I am still strugling to understand a mentality that would criminalise young girls for picking flowers and even worse someone who would stand behind these actions.

It's not difficult - "excuse me, do you realise that what you're letting your children do is wrong?" Do you see? However you phrase it you're talking about a man telling a woman that she should stop her children doing something that she's already sanctioned. It's illegal to take something that doesn't belong to you, and no consolation that the thieves are children, regardless of whether or not they realised that what they were doing was wrong - it is the parents' responsibility to teach them that, and failing that the police's responsibility to uphold the law, which is what happened here. Security word: cost-push

It seems you lack the simple imagination and basic diplomacy that this disgraceful and gutless Mr. Adams suffers from. In your case it may be forgivable but not some a councilor who should have a shred of decency and diplomacy. If you are unable to word a simple request to not pick flowers that isnt offensive then you really need some help. Too many "people" hide behind the cop out phrase "it is illegal". I am 99% sure that this law was not enacted into our nanny state to criminalise a 4 year old girl and if that was the intent we should lock up our politicans. Standing behind a law that is used to threaten children is DISGRACEFUL and you should be ashamed of yourself. If you demand that this is the case, I demand that if your child, friends child, grandchild, etc etc, were to pick a bunch of flowers for yourself, your wife, partner, spouse, friend, relative etc etc, you should drive that child to the police station and demand that the child be charged with theft.

Given that little outburst it's not as if you can take the moral high ground here. We're not talking about one or two flowers here, we're talking about a woman taking her children out to harvest "70 - 80" of them. There are no signs on the beach saying you can't "steal" the sand and i doubt you'd get police officers asking you not to take it away with you between your toes, but if I turned up in a lorry and started filling it up and I would expect to get told off, regardless of whether or not I had a small child with me. Security word: song-room

I just want to see what happens to the words when you quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote.
.
Wow, 150+ comments in a day. I guess we love our daff's. Now come on petals, lets all calm down. Best leaf it alone.

Security word:quote-buton

Bournefre wrote:
I meant you're in no position to criticise when you're just throwing insults around.
Whether you're stealing 1 flower or 1000 is theft in either case, but it's easier to turn a blind eye to someone taking 1
Same with blades of grass - "steal" one and nobody would bat an eyelid, but turning up in a pickup and trying to take the whole lot is not on.
Where does it say the children were picking the flowers for their mother?
security word: work-open

honest_paul wrote:

honest_paul wrote:

The Seasider wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote: It is important for the police to start alienating the general public from an early age, which helps to instill a "them and us" mentality. That said the response was a bit heavy handed - the officers could have just reminded the parents that harvesting flowers in a public park is stealing and moved them along, instead of racing to the scene with lights and sirens, arresting the young girls, handcuffing them and throwing them in the cells.... - LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... Security word: bird-wish

LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... That's right cover the ground in signage then there will be no room for any flowers. With people like you two it's no wonder this country is going slightly bonkers!!! The kids were in the wrong, the parents were in the wrong BUT the Councillor could have taken them to one side to have a quiet word rather than wasting our tax and calling the police. Security work gold-soil.......LOL

Oh so the councillor should have just casually walked up to a woman in the park and called her a bad mother? Even the police didn't dare do that, which is why they pointed out the children were committing a criminal offence, which is where the problem has arisen. security word: boat-dark

At what point did I say she was a bad mother? I simply stated that both the parents and the children were at fault. I also said was that the Councillor could have walked up to the parents and told them politely that destroying the flower beds was a criminal offence and if they didn't stop doing it he would have to call the police. The police could then have dealt with investigating more serious incidents such as my 87 year old grandmothers recent burglary.

You didn't, but that would be the implication - a man walks up to a woman he's never met "excuse me, but if you don't stop your children from picking the flowers I'm going to call the police". I can imagine the reply to be something along the lines of "Who the hell are you to tell me what my children can and can't pick?" Security word: line-warn

Perhaps a simple, "Excuse me, do you realise your children are picking flowers? That is actually prohibited in this park and it would be appreciated if you would stop. Thank you" This would be a reasoned and reasonable responce. Instead , you could stand there and watch, call the police, waste police time over flowers in a park. I am sure the police had nothing better to do and if they didnt then I think the police cuts have not been deep enough. Now the interesting thing about this is that the police would not release details of a complaint to the public. Cllr Adams must have been so proud of his actions he has given details regarding his conduct. He is proud of calling the police on little girls (one still a toddler!) that he has given out the details.

It doesn't matter how simply you say it, it amounts to the same thing - questioning a woman's parenting, which never seems to go down well. Some woman on here even seems to think there needs to be signs everywhere telling people they shouldn't steal the flowers, so it seems unlikely she would stop her children enjoying themselves just because some busybody asked her to. Security word: date-step

I would love to know how politely pointing out that picking flowers is prohibited is "questioning her parenting". I am sorry but I am unable to make that link. If, upon a polite request to stop then involving the police could be justified. I am still strugling to understand a mentality that would criminalise young girls for picking flowers and even worse someone who would stand behind these actions.

It's not difficult - "excuse me, do you realise that what you're letting your children do is wrong?" Do you see? However you phrase it you're talking about a man telling a woman that she should stop her children doing something that she's already sanctioned. It's illegal to take something that doesn't belong to you, and no consolation that the thieves are children, regardless of whether or not they realised that what they were doing was wrong - it is the parents' responsibility to teach them that, and failing that the police's responsibility to uphold the law, which is what happened here. Security word: cost-push

It seems you lack the simple imagination and basic diplomacy that this disgraceful and gutless Mr. Adams suffers from. In your case it may be forgivable but not some a councilor who should have a shred of decency and diplomacy. If you are unable to word a simple request to not pick flowers that isnt offensive then you really need some help. Too many "people" hide behind the cop out phrase "it is illegal". I am 99% sure that this law was not enacted into our nanny state to criminalise a 4 year old girl and if that was the intent we should lock up our politicans. Standing behind a law that is used to threaten children is DISGRACEFUL and you should be ashamed of yourself. If you demand that this is the case, I demand that if your child, friends child, grandchild, etc etc, were to pick a bunch of flowers for yourself, your wife, partner, spouse, friend, relative etc etc, you should drive that child to the police station and demand that the child be charged with theft.

Given that little outburst it's not as if you can take the moral high ground here. We're not talking about one or two flowers here, we're talking about a woman taking her children out to harvest "70 - 80" of them. There are no signs on the beach saying you can't "steal" the sand and i doubt you'd get police officers asking you not to take it away with you between your toes, but if I turned up in a lorry and started filling it up and I would expect to get told off, regardless of whether or not I had a small child with me. Security word: song-room

I just want to see what happens to the words when you quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote.
.
Wow, 150+ comments in a day. I guess we love our daff's. Now come on petals, lets all calm down. Best leaf it alone.

Security word:quote-buton

Sorry my bad! Should have read

Security word: quote-button!

AmsterdamMan wrote:
I forgot to remind you of another thing Adams...Council property is public property, it belongs to us, not you.

LilliputMum1 wrote:
As one of the parents in question, I know that there were only 20 daffodils or so.

We were watching our children, but they were also running freely among the flowers, a few yards away. They were enjoying themselves on a beautiful spring morning.

When I said that "if someone had told us" - I was actually referring to the 'crime' - I didn't know that what they were doing was wrong. Perhaps better public signage or information would have helped here. I picked daffodils and daisies as a child and did not know that it was now illegal. Of course I would not have allowed this if I had known.

Of course, had Councillor Adams approached us and informed us, we would have been aware wouldn't we - and of course we would have apologised and stopped the children.

vch wrote:

honest_paul wrote:

honest_paul wrote:

The Seasider wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote:

WOC wrote:

Bournefre wrote: It is important for the police to start alienating the general public from an early age, which helps to instill a "them and us" mentality. That said the response was a bit heavy handed - the officers could have just reminded the parents that harvesting flowers in a public park is stealing and moved them along, instead of racing to the scene with lights and sirens, arresting the young girls, handcuffing them and throwing them in the cells.... - LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... Security word: bird-wish

LilliputMum1 is quite right of course - there should be adequate signage reminding people not to steal the flowers, drive motor vehicles on the grass, play loud music, fly tip, defaecate in the bushes.... That's right cover the ground in signage then there will be no room for any flowers. With people like you two it's no wonder this country is going slightly bonkers!!! The kids were in the wrong, the parents were in the wrong BUT the Councillor could have taken them to one side to have a quiet word rather than wasting our tax and calling the police. Security work gold-soil.......LOL

Oh so the councillor should have just casually walked up to a woman in the park and called her a bad mother? Even the police didn't dare do that, which is why they pointed out the children were committing a criminal offence, which is where the problem has arisen. security word: boat-dark

At what point did I say she was a bad mother? I simply stated that both the parents and the children were at fault. I also said was that the Councillor could have walked up to the parents and told them politely that destroying the flower beds was a criminal offence and if they didn't stop doing it he would have to call the police. The police could then have dealt with investigating more serious incidents such as my 87 year old grandmothers recent burglary.

You didn't, but that would be the implication - a man walks up to a woman he's never met "excuse me, but if you don't stop your children from picking the flowers I'm going to call the police". I can imagine the reply to be something along the lines of "Who the hell are you to tell me what my children can and can't pick?" Security word: line-warn

Perhaps a simple, "Excuse me, do you realise your children are picking flowers? That is actually prohibited in this park and it would be appreciated if you would stop. Thank you" This would be a reasoned and reasonable responce. Instead , you could stand there and watch, call the police, waste police time over flowers in a park. I am sure the police had nothing better to do and if they didnt then I think the police cuts have not been deep enough. Now the interesting thing about this is that the police would not release details of a complaint to the public. Cllr Adams must have been so proud of his actions he has given details regarding his conduct. He is proud of calling the police on little girls (one still a toddler!) that he has given out the details.

It doesn't matter how simply you say it, it amounts to the same thing - questioning a woman's parenting, which never seems to go down well. Some woman on here even seems to think there needs to be signs everywhere telling people they shouldn't steal the flowers, so it seems unlikely she would stop her children enjoying themselves just because some busybody asked her to. Security word: date-step

I would love to know how politely pointing out that picking flowers is prohibited is "questioning her parenting". I am sorry but I am unable to make that link. If, upon a polite request to stop then involving the police could be justified. I am still strugling to understand a mentality that would criminalise young girls for picking flowers and even worse someone who would stand behind these actions.

It's not difficult - "excuse me, do you realise that what you're letting your children do is wrong?" Do you see? However you phrase it you're talking about a man telling a woman that she should stop her children doing something that she's already sanctioned. It's illegal to take something that doesn't belong to you, and no consolation that the thieves are children, regardless of whether or not they realised that what they were doing was wrong - it is the parents' responsibility to teach them that, and failing that the police's responsibility to uphold the law, which is what happened here. Security word: cost-push

It seems you lack the simple imagination and basic diplomacy that this disgraceful and gutless Mr. Adams suffers from. In your case it may be forgivable but not some a councilor who should have a shred of decency and diplomacy. If you are unable to word a simple request to not pick flowers that isnt offensive then you really need some help. Too many "people" hide behind the cop out phrase "it is illegal". I am 99% sure that this law was not enacted into our nanny state to criminalise a 4 year old girl and if that was the intent we should lock up our politicans. Standing behind a law that is used to threaten children is DISGRACEFUL and you should be ashamed of yourself. If you demand that this is the case, I demand that if your child, friends child, grandchild, etc etc, were to pick a bunch of flowers for yourself, your wife, partner, spouse, friend, relative etc etc, you should drive that child to the police station and demand that the child be charged with theft.

Given that little outburst it's not as if you can take the moral high ground here. We're not talking about one or two flowers here, we're talking about a woman taking her children out to harvest "70 - 80" of them. There are no signs on the beach saying you can't "steal" the sand and i doubt you'd get police officers asking you not to take it away with you between your toes, but if I turned up in a lorry and started filling it up and I would expect to get told off, regardless of whether or not I had a small child with me. Security word: song-room

I just want to see what happens to the words when you quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote a quote. . Wow, 150+ comments in a day. I guess we love our daff's. Now come on petals, lets all calm down. Best leaf it alone.

Security word:quote-buton

Sorry my bad! Should have read Security word: quote-button!

All aboard the quote train, woo-woo!!

ltm wrote:
What is the world coming to when criminals are just let off with a warning? The police should have called for backup, the perpetrators should have been tasered and restrained, taken to the police station, brought before a judge and sentenced to at least 6 years.

MrsDJD wrote:
after reading most of these comments and agreeing with some and strongly agreeing with others i feel the usual "common sense" is once again nowhere to be found (in some cases), the fact is we the people elect Councillors to represent us the people of Bournemouth and it would appear that Cllr Adams had no thought or care regarding what his actions might do (ie terrify children). As a representitive of the people he should have dealt with this via a polite word with the children's parents instead he wasted valuable police time, terrified children and justified it with a comment saying it is theft, well Cllr Adams these were children, a breed you obviously don't understand or want in the parks or countryside. The question i pose is why would Cllr Adams do this, could it possibly be to raise his name and awareness in the press for the forth coming election. Before you shout me down i also agree that these babies parents should have been watching them more closely and should have stopped them from picking them, but please let's deal with each other with respect, understanding and kindness and not in a way that frighten's our children and turns them against the police because they fear them.

Brian Badonde wrote:
Have any of you actually read the article??: To quote: "Officers told the **parents** of the girls..." and "Councillor Peter Adams, who said **a family member of his** had reported the incident..." In any case, I agree that it should be obvious that ripping up a large quantity of flowers you don't own is wrong. To suggest a sign is required is quite ridiculous.

mike97 wrote:
I would also like to add that with everything that has happened in Japan over the last few days, the mother should not have gone to the Echo. She should have realised that her plight would seem insignificant compared to that of those living in Western Japan. She should thank her starts that she could enjoy the park and go home to a nice warm house! So her kids were upset by the policemen?? At least they have had an early lesson in abiding by the law.

kangman2012 wrote:

MrsDJD wrote: after reading most of these comments and agreeing with some and strongly agreeing with others i feel the usual "common sense" is once again nowhere to be found (in some cases), the fact is we the people elect Councillors to represent us the people of Bournemouth and it would appear that Cllr Adams had no thought or care regarding what his actions might do (ie terrify children). As a representitive of the people he should have dealt with this via a polite word with the children's parents instead he wasted valuable police time, terrified children and justified it with a comment saying it is theft, well Cllr Adams these were children, a breed you obviously don't understand or want in the parks or countryside. The question i pose is why would Cllr Adams do this, could it possibly be to raise his name and awareness in the press for the forth coming election. Before you shout me down i also agree that these babies parents should have been watching them more closely and should have stopped them from picking them, but please let's deal with each other with respect, understanding and kindness and not in a way that frighten's our children and turns them against the police because they fear them.

Just one point. I don't follow local politics and wouldn't know a local pollitician if I fell over one but if Cllr. Adams is a Bournemouth councillor as you say, what is he doing at Whitecliffe, Poole, poking his nose into things that as a Bournemouth councillor he has absolutely no right doing!

mike97 wrote:

kangman2012 wrote:

MrsDJD wrote: after reading most of these comments and agreeing with some and strongly agreeing with others i feel the usual "common sense" is once again nowhere to be found (in some cases), the fact is we the people elect Councillors to represent us the people of Bournemouth and it would appear that Cllr Adams had no thought or care regarding what his actions might do (ie terrify children). As a representitive of the people he should have dealt with this via a polite word with the children's parents instead he wasted valuable police time, terrified children and justified it with a comment saying it is theft, well Cllr Adams these were children, a breed you obviously don't understand or want in the parks or countryside. The question i pose is why would Cllr Adams do this, could it possibly be to raise his name and awareness in the press for the forth coming election. Before you shout me down i also agree that these babies parents should have been watching them more closely and should have stopped them from picking them, but please let's deal with each other with respect, understanding and kindness and not in a way that frighten's our children and turns them against the police because they fear them.

Just one point. I don't follow local politics and wouldn't know a local pollitician if I fell over one but if Cllr. Adams is a Bournemouth councillor as you say, what is he doing at Whitecliffe, Poole, poking his nose into things that as a Bournemouth councillor he has absolutely no right doing!

Cllr. Adams is a Poole Councillor, not Bournemouth

b26b wrote:
178 comments?!?!?! Echo close this story let people go out and get a life!

MrsDJD wrote:
Now I know why our country is going to the dogs!!! Goodnight.

mike97 wrote:

kangman2012 wrote:

MrsDJD wrote: after reading most of these comments and agreeing with some and strongly agreeing with others i feel the usual "common sense" is once again nowhere to be found (in some cases), the fact is we the people elect Councillors to represent us the people of Bournemouth and it would appear that Cllr Adams had no thought or care regarding what his actions might do (ie terrify children). As a representitive of the people he should have dealt with this via a polite word with the children's parents instead he wasted valuable police time, terrified children and justified it with a comment saying it is theft, well Cllr Adams these were children, a breed you obviously don't understand or want in the parks or countryside. The question i pose is why would Cllr Adams do this, could it possibly be to raise his name and awareness in the press for the forth coming election. Before you shout me down i also agree that these babies parents should have been watching them more closely and should have stopped them from picking them, but please let's deal with each other with respect, understanding and kindness and not in a way that frighten's our children and turns them against the police because they fear them.

Just one point. I don't follow local politics and wouldn't know a local pollitician if I fell over one but if Cllr. Adams is a Bournemouth councillor as you say, what is he doing at Whitecliffe, Poole, poking his nose into things that as a Bournemouth councillor he has absolutely no right doing!

Cllr. Adams is a Poole Councillor, not Bournemouth

Baysider wrote:
Having just heard Cllr Adams and Neil Butterworth on the radio being interviewed over this matter there are significant numbers of people on this thread who should retract their anti LA, public sector hating bile.

The family were approached and requested to stop their children from picking the daf's. The response being less than polite or positive by all accounts. it was only after this and them continuing that the police were called. Presumably they were in the area anyway as they got there very quickly and dealt with it appropriately.

Rather than accept that their behavour was wrong and take some responsiblity the parents ran off whinging to the Echo, who of course just can't help themselves publishing half truths and council bashing at every opportunity. The result is yet another set of dogmatic, insulting, anti public sector, nonsense based on a nothing story. Pathetic.

rodoftruth wrote:
How some some people can write some of the drivel here - tangenting off about councillors' pay, finding stolen bikes, reducing expenditure on flowers is curious. The comments are off subject. That we now have a police force that is para-military in appearance and behaviour is true and is frightening even for adults - soon such incidents will be attended by the armed support units. It is regrettable that the police were disturbed on a Sunday-double time- they may not have finished polished their boots or sleeping - do you think they care about anything in the community? Of course not - they are in it just for the money thinking how stupid we all are while they ponce around everywhere. They are fast loosing the trust of everyone. They wear more body armour here than anywhere in the world?

ILOVEBOURNEMOUTH wrote:
Wow, are you serious??? I just registered so I could comment on this absolutely ridiculous-ness. (And what a scenario that was, how many hoops did I have to jump through for that!??)

a) We're originally from Florida, and my daughter loves and was always welcome to have a flower in her hand wherever she pleased.

b) Similar situation, we walk thru St Clements churchyard constantly and what beautiful white and purple daffodil-like flowers have bloomed in there recently. However, when she asks me for one, or two, I tell her no!, many of them have already have been trampled on due to the excessive dogs running on and "going to the toilet on" these beautiful flowers.

Signs have been posted recently, "Please do not tread on the flowers".

Are you telling me, children have almost been arrested for taking flowers? And yet, people letting their dogs trample on flowers or people "just" walking on flowers is OK???

Maybe, no, definitely, people (who own the dogs who allow them to excrete ALL OVER THE PLACE on every sidewalk you walk along) should be arrested.

What's worse? Children with flowers in their hands or dog poop on the pavement?

In Florida, every sidewalk is pristine and I encourage my daughter to walk on it. Here? No way Jose! Ain't gonna happen!

Children (almost) getting arrested for picking flowers? Come on already! Let's take out the drug dealers and prostitutes first shall we?

solitaire wrote:
http://blogs.telegra

ph.co.uk/news/guywal

ters/100080009/the-p

olice-are-right-to-s

top-children-picking

-daffodils/

ILOVEBOURNEMOUTH wrote:
Wow, are you serious??? I just registered so I could comment on this absolutely ridiculous-ness. (And what a scenario that was, how many hoops did I have to jump through for that!??) a) We're originally from Florida, and my daughter loves and was always welcome to have a flower in her hand wherever she pleased. b) Similar situation, we walk thru St Clements churchyard constantly and what beautiful white and purple daffodil-like flowers have bloomed in there recently. However, when she asks me for one, or two, I tell her no!, many of them have already have been trampled on due to the excessive dogs running on and "going to the toilet on" these beautiful flowers. Signs have been posted recently, "Please do not tread on the flowers". Are you telling me, children have almost been arrested for taking flowers? And yet, people letting their dogs trample on flowers or people "just" walking on flowers is OK??? Maybe, no, definitely, people (who own the dogs who allow them to excrete ALL OVER THE PLACE on every sidewalk you walk along) should be arrested. What's worse? Children with flowers in their hands or dog poop on the pavement? In Florida, every sidewalk is pristine and I encourage my daughter to walk on it. Here? No way Jose! Ain't gonna happen! Children (almost) getting arrested for picking flowers? Come on already! Let's take out the drug dealers and prostitutes first shall we?

Wimwam wrote:
There are so many 'typo's' in this report I think the author should perhaps be retrained urgently. !!!

Pippins wrote:

ILOVEBOURNEMOUTH wrote:
Wow, are you serious??? I just registered so I could comment on this absolutely ridiculous-ness. (And what a scenario that was, how many hoops did I have to jump through for that!??) a) We're originally from Florida, and my daughter loves and was always welcome to have a flower in her hand wherever she pleased. b) Similar situation, we walk thru St Clements churchyard constantly and what beautiful white and purple daffodil-like flowers have bloomed in there recently. However, when she asks me for one, or two, I tell her no!, many of them have already have been trampled on due to the excessive dogs running on and "going to the toilet on" these beautiful flowers. Signs have been posted recently, "Please do not tread on the flowers". Are you telling me, children have almost been arrested for taking flowers? And yet, people letting their dogs trample on flowers or people "just" walking on flowers is OK??? Maybe, no, definitely, people (who own the dogs who allow them to excrete ALL OVER THE PLACE on every sidewalk you walk along) should be arrested. What's worse? Children with flowers in their hands or dog poop on the pavement? In Florida, every sidewalk is pristine and I encourage my daughter to walk on it. Here? No way Jose! Ain't gonna happen! Children (almost) getting arrested for picking flowers? Come on already! Let's take out the drug dealers and prostitutes first shall we?

what? you dont let your daughter walk on the pavement?

do you make her walk in the road then?

how odd.

Janeygirl wrote:
Florida is an awful place - this article IS NOT ABOUT whether there are not more important issues or not.
It is not about children picking flowers.
It is not about dogs 'excreting', neither is it about American terrorists' activities in the peace-loving Afghanistan.
It is about a mother being abusive when told to leave flowers in a public park, her indignation that the police were then called although unfortunately she was not arrested and taken into custody, it is about her then saying she did not know it was wrong because there were no signs.
This forum should be discussing why the mother is not on remand and why Poole Social Services have not yet taken the poor children into car, because it is quite clear they are in danger. They are being groomed to star in 'Shameless' perhaps, when they are teens they will say we got pregnant because we did not see a sign telling us to use contraceptives.
Welcome to dumbed-down Britain.

Perhaps someone from Poole Social Services could comment on this.

pzazz wrote:
I would like to add my previous comment to say that Mr Adams isnt actually" head of leisure services ",but he is the councillor who represents leisure services and is so involved in decision making for that department. So in view of this I cannot understand , why with his authority over the parks, he didnt have a quiet word with the families himself. Why did two members of his family and the police have to get invloved when he was the man for the job!!
If his intention was not to draw attention to himself he went the wrong way about it!
I still believe some action had to be taken , due to fact that the parents needed some moral and legal points explained to them, so that they could teach their children some respect for others ( even if the childrens actions were not meant to be destructive , for they did think they were being kind to their mums)
However this action did not have to involve the police , for as i said before the man for the job was right on hand ... the councillor for leisure services.. Mr Peter Adams.

LilliputMum1 wrote:
As one of the parents in question, I know that there were only 20 daffodils or so. We were watching our children, but they were also running freely among the flowers, a few yards away. They were enjoying themselves on a beautiful spring morning. When I said that "if someone had told us" - I was actually referring to the 'crime' - I didn't know that what they were doing was wrong. Perhaps better public signage or information would have helped here. I picked daffodils and daisies as a child and did not know that it was now illegal. Of course I would not have allowed this if I had known. Of course, had Councillor Adams approached us and informed us, we would have been aware wouldn't we - and of course we would have apologised and stopped the children.

rook wrote:

AmsterdamMan wrote: I forgot to remind you of another thing Adams...Council property is public property, it belongs to us, not you.

Yes, it belongs to ALL of us, including the councillors, not for one family to remove for their own enjoyment. Seeing all the details (assuming they are accurate) completely changed my opinion from the initial headline. I agree that picking a couple would be a nice thing for the children to do, and they probably thought it would please their parents to take them some nice flowers, but significantly changing the look of the park at the time the daffs are flowering is not really considering the feelings of the rest of us.

Morrigan wrote:
What a JOKE!! The Police felt able to attend in this case where someone was reported for causing criminal damage, yet when I had my car vandalised just before Christmas and phoned the Police whilst it was still being done, they told me not go out and tackle the lads doing it and that they would attend within 48 hours!!!!! They never did come to my house, but phoned me the next day and took the details of the damage over the phone and said it would be recorded as an "act of anti-social behaviour", but that they couldn't commit the resources to do anything about it!!! UNBELIEVEABLE!!!

BournemouthMum wrote:
I'm lost for words (and that doesn't happen very often!).

kangman2012 wrote:

Phixer wrote: "Mrs Errington refuted the suggestion they encouraged the flower picking and said they would have stopped the girls taking them if someone had brought it to their attention." So, you admit to not being in control in a public place of three children aged 4, 6 & 10. Don't complain if social services pay you a visit.

How can you possibly say that 3 young girls picking flowers, regardless of the amount, is showing that the parents have a lack of control and that Social Services should become involved. It's pathetic over-reaction to the already pathetic "nannying" laws that exist in this sad little country by so-called "officials" and people like you who like to stick their "fourpenneth" in as an afterthought that turn an extremely minor incident into something that is being blown out of all proportion - "don't complain if Social Services pay you a visit" - what an absolute idiot you are!

DragonofWales wrote:
Jane Errington and her partner Marc Marengo along with the Echo who are the laughing stock of Poole are the only ones who can put an end to this. Jane Errington ,What does she really want to get out of this? a question the desperate Echo has failed to ask. Marc the foul mouthed but absent from the paper (We all know who wears the trousers in this relationship). Jane hope you got the Schools permission to take your daughter out of school for a photo session with the Echo. DEAR EDITOR, THERE ARE FAR MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAN THIS TO BE ON THE FRONT PAGE DAY AFTER DAY, UNLESS THE ECHO THINK THE PEOPLE OF POOLE CAN ONLY HANDLE STORIES LIKE THIS. THE END

LoulouBlue wrote:
I took my children to Kingston Lacey, last month to enjoy the snowdrops, my children were skipping through the rock garden ahead of me , then as I rounded a corner, to my horror my son had picked 5 snowdrops and presented them to me as proud as could be- I explained to him that we cannot pick the snowdrops as they are there for everyone to enjoy, he looked totally crestfallen, but excepted what he had done was wrong, even though it was with good intent to cheer me up – So, I know how this happens. As for you Cllr ‘Sanctimonious’ Adams – surely just pointing it out to the parent’s that what their children were doing was wrong, would have been suffice. I will remember this come May, you have just lost my vote.

Louise-Bournemouth wrote:
Oh dear lord, I just remembered! The other day, myself and a few friends did our own community litter pick removing litter that did not belong to us from a council park! We certainly picked up over 80 items, we actually picked up 10 bags of litter. When shall I expect the police or council to have a word with me for taking something that was not mine!? I wait with baited breath... 'ding dong'!

Gooby wrote:

Bournefre wrote: I meant you're in no position to criticise when you're just throwing insults around. Whether you're stealing 1 flower or 1000 is theft in either case, but it's easier to turn a blind eye to someone taking 1 Same with blades of grass - "steal" one and nobody would bat an eyelid, but turning up in a pickup and trying to take the whole lot is not on. Where does it say the children were picking the flowers for their mother? security word: work-open

Simply answer the question. When a child presents you with a flower that has been picked for you, are you going to insist that the police charges the child with theft? I am very happy to insult someone who believes that the police should hve been used in this way. I will start a list here; Petty, Small minded, Pointless Disgrace to humanity ... I have hundreds more. Lets look at the rest of the laws that are used against citizens. There was a heckler at a Labour conference that was charged with "terrorism". It is the "law" according to you, that is enough. Not so long ago a motorist was prosecuted for being a good samaritain and signaling other motorists that there was a speed trap. It was "the law" so of course just and right. Think for yourself and question authority. I know for a fact that it will take a very long time for this thought to have any effect because you are still blissfully ignorant of all posters on this forum taking the micky out of you with your "security word" error. Funny but it seems that many ideas pass very far over your head. Please do not avoid the question at the top of my post. I am facinated to know your answer. Security word: clueless-numpty