I dealt with a case the other day in which the 15 year old defendant was accused of assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty.

The allegation arose from an incident where the defendant had been seen to go to the front of the dinner queue at school. The police officer in question asked him to leave and when he refused took hold of his arm to escort him away. The young man took exception and a scuffle broke out which ended up with both of them on the floor.

The boy was arrested, interviewed and charged with an offence of assault to which he pleaded not guilty. At the trial, evidence was heard from the police officer, two dinner ladies and a teacher.

Setting aside the question of why a police officer is required on school premises, most of the examination of the witnesses centred around how the dinner queue system worked at that particular school. The dinner ladies were used, in effect, as a filter so when a space became clear at the food counter a pupil would be let through.

The teacher gave evidence for the prosecution.

‘How often do you go to the canteen for your lunch?’

‘Nearly every day.’

‘And do you queue up?’

‘No, if I’m honest I go straight to the front of the queue.’