Mall bans father from photographing son in Sunderland

BBC ^ | Friday, 26 February 2010 | Staff

[Eyes Unclouded]

A father was told he was not allowed take pictures of his four-year-old son at a Sunderland shopping centre because of fears he could be a paedophile.

Kevin Geraghty-Shewan, of Kent, was challenged by a security guard at The Bridges after photographing his son Ben on a children's train ride.

He was told he could not prove Ben was his son and later quizzed by a police officer called to the centre.

Bosses at the shopping centre have apologised for the "misunderstanding".

Mr Geraghty-Shewan, 48, of Gillingham, said they had visited the shopping centre after Ben was given £10 from his grandfather to buy a toy.

His wife had suggested taking a picture of their son on a mobile phone camera after the "train obsessed" youngster boarded the ride.

A security guard then approached and told him it was against the centre's policy and that he "could be a paedophile".

Mr Geraghty-Shewan said: "He said there was no way of proving what I was doing was innocent.

"I told him Ben was my own son and that he was blowing everything out of proportion.

"Five or 10 minutes later a police officer approached and asked for my name and address.

"I raised my voice, as I was getting a little annoyed by this stage, and he threatened to arrest me for breach of the peace.

"I could have understood if I had been observed hanging about but I had walked up with my wife and son.

[Joe Boucher]

I’ve seen the same thing at the local Catholic Church when a father tried to take photos of his infants Babtism.
Not the chosen photographer.
In other words no kick back.

[BobL]

The other interesting thing is that they have about 500,000 cameras all over the country there...probably DOZENS if not hundreds at that mall.

[Lazamataz]

England does not surprise me any more. They have been insane for quite some time.

[gitmo]

My young special needs son slipped away at a large mall one night. I was frantically searching for him. Eventually the mall started closing down parts of the mall for the night and a security guard stopped me, telling me I couldn’t go down that part of the mall. I explained I was missing a kid (I’d already told mall security but they said they couldn’t help). He said they wouldn’t let me go down there. I advised the guy to call the police because I was going down that side of the mall if he liked it or not.

They let me through.

[autumnraine]

Yeah, this is the same country that banned parents from a playground (including putting them outside a fence) just in case they may be pedophiles. So family outings for these kids will involve the joy of a playground and seeing the smiling faces of your mom or dad through chainlink.

And God forbid they fall? Wonder if they would have to just hobble on their broken leg to the fence to reach their parents.

The world has gone slapcrap bonkers insane.

[real saxophonist]

This is England

[jackibutterfly]

So, gitmo, finish the story. WHERE did you find him??

[gitmo]

He had ended up going to Bass Pro Shops to watch the fish.

I was really starting to panic that time, though.

[FunkyZero]

"This would have been the opportunity to make a complete fool of myself."

I was thinking the exact same thing, but I'm always afraid my wife won't bail me out til she's had a few days of peace.

[NoRedTape]

"What proof can be provided?"
The Father should have consented to an immediate blood test in the Mall Cop van. lol.

That Mall Cop is an imbecile. Must have been a slow day.

[votemout]

I was going to refer to my wife as “partner” when I realized she holds the majority voting interest.

[maine-iac7]

Would this have taken place ten years ago in the UK? Will it happen here in ten years?

ahhh - let me tell you a story.

I took my 2 year old son to an afternoon movie matinee.

In the middle of he movie, a policeman approached me, having been called by the theater personnel.

I had a hel*va time proving I was his mother, even with my frightened little boy hanging on my leg, whimpering "Mommy, mommy."

I happened to look young for my age - I was 21. I was still being carded when I was into my 40's.

My 'little boy" is now 57 - and my age and looks have, unfortunately, caught up with each other.

[jackibutterfly]

Thank you - glad he was alright! :-)