SNATCHING an ice cream from another pupil is not robbery. Screaming profanities after failing a subject is neither a minor offence nor criminal intimidation. It is how young people make their way through the stress and fun of school life.

The police have always been cautious when using their special powers during investigation, as stipulated in the criminal procedure code, when dealing with young people.

The full force of their powers is supposed to be used on the paradigm of minimum force, especially when dealing with trivial disputes and minor offences. This discretion is further applied carefully when dealing with students.

In most cases where police reports are lodged by any aggrieved party, parents and teachers are always in the mix, as the authorities are well aware that young people are at a very impressionable age. Schoolboy or schoolgirl mischief and pranks are part and parcel of their youth, immaturity and growing up.

Even the law cushions children below the age of 12, as well as teenagers, from the full force of sentencing.  

It is quite bemusing that the police have treated two SPM students as they would with criminals, in arresting and applying for their further detention. The offence and their age did not warrant such a heavy-handed application of the law.

The teacher too, I felt, jumped the gun in lodging a police report when this mischievous incident should have been handled internally. At most, the relevant liaison police officer could have gotten involved to advise the students. Initial police action should have ended with referring it to the Education Department.

Schoolboy mischief should not be handled as we would with criminal offences as children being immature, do not realise that causing hurt, damage to property, taking small things from their friends, frightening others and so on, can be classified as offences. Most of them think it is simply part of play.

Discretion must always be part of applying the law when dealing with any situation and the police must exercise caution when dealing with children and young people. Police action towards these young ones can be counterproductive to their development and can cause severe psychological problems in future – with the exception to those who cause severe injuries, damage and loss to others.

The police then must step in swiftly to take action.

Students venting their frustrations during examinations is normal as they can be experiencing severe stress and pressure.

In most cases they need counselling, which requires teachers and parents to be the first line of remedial recourse in such situations, not the police. – February 28, 2023.

* G. Selva reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.