Zumerzet Police

Fruitcake

My son had gone off the rails and fallen in with a bad crowd since passing his driving test and getting a car, then reaching the mature old age of 18.
First car written off after being on the road twelve days. Choice of prosecution or a driving skills course, he took the latter.
Second car crashed shortly after getting back on the road. Car repaired then he's off again, staying out late, mouthy, insolent, sleeping rough, getting drunk, rude, argumentative, insulting, swearing. Then a speeding ticket. We found out later he was racing another car in a 30mph limit. Total disregard or respect for the rest of the family, or anyone else. We know nothing and his mates know all. We were at our wits end and don't know what to do.
Friday night we had a call from the local Police. Don't panic but....
he's turned his car over but he is OK.
We go to scrape him up again to find the car on its side in a deserted car park. He has a gashed finger but his mate luckily is unhurt.
His version of events was obviously a pack of lies. His mate told exactly the same story.
Police arrive and interview all of us. Son taken into police car and "spoken to."
Public place, son hurt but not passenger. Nobody else involved, no damage to anyone else's property, incident number raised but no offence committed, so no charges. In addition he told the police what really happened. I arrange to get mate and car home, police offer to take my wife and son to casualty.
Afterwards sorting out the car recovery I went to the hospital to collect my wife and son.
I don't know what the copper said, but we now have our old son back. Polite, caring, helpful, all the things he was before he got a car.
The car has been sold and he's given up driving for the time being. He's cut up the sim card from his mobile 'phone and bought a new one so his "mates" can't call him, and he has got back in touch with two friends who have always been polite and no trouble to anyone.
I cannot thank the police officers concerned enough for what they did. There were no raised voices or threats, just a calm matter of fact 30ish but experienced copper and dad of three talking quietly to our son.

Fruitcake

You Only Listen To Me When I'm Wrong

Darksun

Just goes to show, there are better ways than ASBOs to put people straight. Glad your son is OK and learned his lesson

djohn2002uk

One of the best and most enjoyable posts I've read on here in a long while.
Hope it lasts now.:T:T

EssexGirl

Glad it worked out for you.
Now can you please send that copper across to my neck of the woods

suekjw

It sounds like things are on the up for your son. You may never know what the police said to him, but thank goodness they said it!

Lola23

That's good things are getting back to normal for you and your family.

It is a difficult age and I know what you are going through.

My youngest is 16 now and we are trying to advise him not to make the same mistakes one of my other sons made.

There is this fine line they cross and we can only be there for them and hope they take on board what we are saying.

Nice of the cops though! I think it all depends on the attitude they take with the kids...It sometimes goes the other way.

Good Luck.

:j

hollydays

Times like this you realise all the values you tried to teach your kids are in their heads somewhere.

nenya

I'm glad to her your son has taken the advise of the Police man to heart. Wish my younger brother would do the same - instead all you hear is 'f%@*ing pigs did this that and the other' i am very certain, the next time my younger bro gets beaten up he'll run to the police for help. Hope they don't help him.

HugoSP

Fruitcake

Could you PLEASE get the coppers number and name and write to the Chief Constable for that force.

He will hopefully get a pat on the back for it and it'l be good morale for the force in general - god only knows they need it.

pavlovs_dog

i was just about to suggest the same thing :beer:

tranmererovers

Well that's a great story - thanks for sharing it. I am sure it will give heart to other parents that are going through similar situations.