A mother in London has been slapped with a £100 fine after CCTV cameras captured her hugging her 14-year-old daughter outside a school—a move that has drawn sharp criticism against the Metropolitan Police for heavy-handed enforcement.
The incident, which took place in Westminster, saw the woman approached by officers who accused her of "loitering with intent to cause alarm" under the Public Order Act. The mother, who wished to remain anonymous, insisted she was simply waiting to pick up her child and shared a brief embrace before heading home.
Public Outcry Over "Absurd" Fine
Local parents and civil liberties groups have condemned the penalty as "ridiculous" and "disproportionate," arguing that the police are targeting harmless behaviour instead of focusing on genuine threats. "Since when did hugging your child become a crime?" one parent remarked.
Police Defend Decision
The Metropolitan Police stated that the fine was issued due to "repeated complaints about congestion and anti-social behaviour" near the school. However, critics argue that such measures erode trust in law enforcement and create unnecessary tension between officers and the community.
Campaigners are now calling for clearer guidelines on public interactions near schools to prevent similar incidents in the future.
