Park benches around the World are becoming hotbeds of crime as citizens perhaps unknowingly flout the law.
In April this year, London’s Metropolitan Police arrested a woman for “mentally exercising” while sitting on a park bench. Her being out in the open was against strict Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in force at the time.
Also in April this year a homeless Aboriginal man Dwayne Kennedy was arrested by Victorian police in Melbourne for sitting on a park bench, contrary to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. The irony of this arrest is that Mr Kennedy was not at home because he didn’t have a home to go to – he was homeless.
Police Arrest Elderly Women who Breach Covid-19 Lockdown Laws
And only a few days ago again in Melbourne, Victorian police arrested two elderly women for sitting on a park bench contrary to Victoria’s strict lockdown laws. Five police attended with one of the officers snatching one of the women’s mobile telephone while she was recording the police going about their sworn duties.
Something quite different but an example of people falling foul of park benches goes way back to 2015 and well before the current pandemic. West Australian police were at the time searching in the Scarborough area for men “driving” a motorised park bench/table. At the time it was reported that:
“the tables are equipped with a motor and a lever with what appears
to be a brake attached. The mechanism for steering is not visible…”
So what lessons can be learned here?
If you or someone you know find yourself in such a circumstance, please find a reputable criminal lawyer to navigate this situation.