A distressed mother has accused police of ‘pure abuse of power’ after they arrested and handcuffed her son and another youngster right in front of her.
The boys, both understood to be 10 years old, were approached by Cumbria Police officers in Kirkby Lonsdale yesterday morning after reports that a member of the public had been threatened with a penknife.
However, following an extensive search no knife or other weapon was found and the boys were released.
Cumbria Police later said in a statement they had been handcuffed ‘for their and officers safety while the searches were completed.’
But footage of the incident shows one of the boys clearly becoming agitated after being handcuffed – with his mother also becoming tearful at the sight of her detained son.
Posting the video on social media, where it has so far been viewed tens of thousands of times, the distraught mother – who is believed to be from the Traveller community – alleged the police action had amounted to ‘bullying’.
The incident occurred in the run-up to the annual Appleby Horse Fair, which takes place next month and represents the largest traditional Gypsy and Traveller fair in Europe.
In the short video, the mother can be heard pleading with the officer and says: ‘He’s a little 10-year-old boy.’
A distressed mother has accused police of ‘pure abuse of power’ after they arrested and handcuffed her 10-year-old son and another youngster right in front of her
The boys, both understood to be 10 years old, were approached by Cumbria Police officers in Kirkby Lonsdale yesterday after reports that someone had been threatened with a penknife
Cumbria Police later said in a statement they had been handcuffed ‘for their and officers safety while the searches were completed’
She then attempts to comfort her son, who is visibly crying.
Appealing to the officer again, the mother asks him not to handcuff her son, but he remains resolute.
‘He’s a f***ing kid,’ she tells him, before the officer assures her that he will ‘explain what he did’.
The mother then says: ‘Don’t hurt him’.
As the commotion continues, a second youngster is seen being led away by officers in handcuffs.
A day after the incident, the mother wrote: ‘Our boys were put in handcuffs on the basis of False allegations! Pure abuse of power and provoking behaviour! Bullying 10 year olds!’
The impassioned mother added: ‘You wouldn’t see them doing this to any other community!
‘And they wonder why our children are frit [afraid] of them, this could of been handled in a completely different manner. #abuseofpower’.
Footage of the incident shows one of the boys clearly becoming agitated after being handcuffed – with his mother also becoming tearful at the sight of her detained son
The incident occurred in the run-up to the Appleby Horse Fair, which takes place in June
In a statement posted after the video was circulated, a police spokesperson said: ‘Cumbria Police are aware of concerns being expressed on social media in response to the handcuffing and search of two boys at Kirkby Lonsdale.
‘At around 11.30am on 22 May 2025 Cumbria Police received a call for service from a member of the public reporting a group of boys on the path by the River Lune, one of whom threatened the caller with a penknife.
‘Officers carried out a search in the area and located two boys based on the descriptions provided.
‘Due to the report of a knife, the boys were handcuffed for their and officers safety while the searches were completed.
‘A search was carried out and no knife located, and the handcuffs removed.
‘Officers continue to engage with people in the area.
‘Stop and search will be used as appropriate to ensure the safety of all communities as we work to ensure everyone has a safe Appleby Fair.’
Around 30,000 visitors from all over Europe descend each year on the small town of Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, which has hosted the event since 1775.
Cumbria Police said it employs an extensive policing operation to ‘enhance public safety’ at the event, with last year seeing more than 100 arrests taking place.
