Tragic suicide of Joe Lawton highlights urgent need for change in law
We offer our deepest condolences to the family of Joe Lawton. Joe was seventeen when he was arrested and kept overnight at Cheadle Heath Police station after a positive breath test. Two days later Joe took his own life. It was only then that his parents found out he had been arrested. Joe’s parents are campaigning to bring a change to the law so that when a child (under 18) is in contact or arrested by the police that they are treated as a child, and not an adult. This change will bring the UK into line with the United Nations Conventions on the rights of the child which state that every person under eighteen must be treated as a child if they are considered such in the eyes of the law of that country. Please sign their petition.
https://www.change.org/petitions/home-office-ukhomeoffice-change-the-law-so-17-year-olds-are-treated-as-children-in-custody-4joe?alert_id=UbPREJcrtG_syOLoIvDUx&utm_campaign=19761&utm_medium=email&utm_source=action_alert