18 hours in police cell – for dropping apple

Plumber Keith Hirst, 54, who has a heart condition, was locked up after he refused to accept a £50 on-the-spot fine from a police community support officer. [>

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“The way I was treated you would have thought I had robbed a bank,” he said. And MPs joined in condemnation of the police action, describing it as “totally over the top”.  [>

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Tory Philip Davies said: “Has the world gone mad? Yobs who’ve been caught running amok on our streets have been treated more leniently than this. Police support officers were brought in to reassure communities blighted by yobs, not to act as council busybodies, booking people for dropping apple cores. [>

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“The time spent locking this man up could have been spent catching real criminals.” [>

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Mr Hirst was arrested after he refused to give his name and address. He was then taken to a police station, where he had his DNA and fingerprints taken. [>

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Police were given the power to take DNA samples from suspects in 2003. But the then Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, made clear at the time that the power should be used only for serious offences.  [>

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Mr Hirst, who strongly denies dropping the apple core, was seen twice by a doctor during his ordeal after complaining of dizziness and chest pains. [>

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He said yesterday: “My family are law-abiding people and I would help if I saw a gang of yobs attacking a police officer. [>

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“This kind of incident does not help in improving relations between the community and police. I suppose £50 for an on-the-spot fine is easy money for them.” [>

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Mr Hirst was held during a lunchtime trip to shops in Swinton, Greater Manchester. He was approached by the cycle-riding support officer, who he said was wearing a fluorescent jacket, big sunglasses and a baseball cap and carrying a wad of tickets and a pen. [>

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Mr Hirst, who has had heart surgery and is unable to work, told the officer he was not responsible for dropping the apple core and went into a chemist to buy medication for his disabled wife. [>

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He then claims he emerged to discover five uniformed officers had arrived to arrest him. [>

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He was held at Swinton police station and taken to court the next day handcuffed to a security guard. He appeared before Salford magistrates charged with dropping litter and obstructing a police officer. [>

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He denied both charges, and the obstruction charge has since been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. The litter charge is scheduled to go to trial before a district judge in July. [>

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Mr Hirst’s wife Glynis, who is disabled because of a back problem, said: “The first I knew about it was when Keith called at 10.45pm. [>

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“He had gone to the post office at lunchtime. We did not know where he was and my daughter had been ringing hospitals because we thought something had happened to him. I think the whole case is ridiculous when you think of the cost for such a stupid thing.” [>

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Senior officers yesterday defended the police action and said Mr Hirst gave them no choice because he would not reveal his name and address. They also “categorically” denied Mr Hirst’s claims that five officers were sent to arrest him, insisting it was a single bobby. [>

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A source said: “We obviously do not want to arrest people for dropping litter. This man had a terrible attitude and left us with no choice because he refused to give his details.”  [>

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Superintendent Ian Palmer, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “Littering is an offence and we work tirelessly to ensure the streets are not only safe but also clean.  [>

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“Officers are expected to challenge anyone seen dropping litter.” [>

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Earlier this year mother-of-three Kate Badger, 25, of Wolverhampton, appeared in court after being accused of throwing an apple core from her car. The case dragged on for a year and cost at least £2,800 before being dropped. [>