Grey crimewave as arrests rise
Nearly 200 pensioners have been arrested for a catalogue of crimes including assault, criminal damage and possession of an imitation firearm in one Black Country borough alone. Nearly 200 pensioners have been arrested for a catalogue of crimes including assault, criminal damage and possession of an imitation firearm in one Black Country borough alone. Figures obtained by the Express & Star for the past three years also show the number of old people breaking the law in Dudley is on the up. This year there has been 27 more arrests than in 2004-05. Today we can reveal that 181 senior citizens in the borough – including one aged 89 – have felt the long arm of the law since 2004 and nearly 20 of them were in their 80s when they were nicked. Drink driving, sexual offences, breach of Anti-Social Behavior Orders and harassment are some of the other crimes which have lead to OAPs being arrested. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Figures obtained by the Express & Star for the past three years also show the number of old people breaking the law in Dudley is on the up.
This year there has been 27 more arrests than in 2004-05. Today we can reveal that 181 senior citizens in the borough – including one aged 89 – have felt the long arm of the law since 2004 and nearly 20 of them were in their 80s when they were nicked.
Drink driving, sexual offences, breach of Anti-Social Behavior Orders and harassment are some of the other crimes which have lead to OAPs being arrested.
Dudley Council old people's champion, Councillor Hazel Turner, said some senior citizens can behave as badly as some of the youngsters who hit the headlines.
She said: "As some people get older they can sometimes start to get a bit more frustrated as they can't do what they used to do so perhaps that could lead to some of these crimes being committed. It could also be that they don't feel they are being heard on issues which affect them. I think as well that some people start to lose their patience as they get a bit older and become less lenient, although obviously not all do."
The figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show that between 2004 and 2006, 23 pensioners were arrested for common assault and assault causing actual bodily harm. Seven were arrested for sexual offences and 17 were arrested for drink driving.
A further nine were arrested for breaching anti-social behaviour orders, 10 were held by police following allegations of theft from a shop and one was arrested for theft from a person.
Other offences include one arrest for possessing an imitation firearm with intent to commit indictable offences, as well as arrests for driving with defective eyesight, criminal damage, resisting or obstructing a police officer, battery, harassment and having an offensive weapon in public.
Over the past three years nearly 100 senior citizens went on to be charged with a criminal offence and 49 were cautioned. Five of the pensioners were dealt with through the mental health act. A further 45 faced no further action.
