Son traumatised by arrest, dad says
A father who was prosecuted for letting his 10-year-old son drive his car has questioned the police's reaction to the 'harmless' bonding exercise.
Matt Burden, who received a one-year driving ban and was fined HK$5,000 last month, said he was still trying to understand why police chose to arrest him and his son, Louis, instead of issuing a verbal warning. He said it had been a traumatic experience for the boy.
'Taking Louis for a drive is something many fathers in England would do with their son. It's something you check off a list. You take him to a football match. You take him for his first driving lesson,' the 37-year-old father of two said.
'My dad used to take me driving in England when I was the same age. It was a very good experience.'
Mr Burden, director of a removals company, said family tradition was the reason he let Louis take the wheel in an area of cul de sacs - frequented by learner drivers - on Braemar Hill on April 1.
Louis, who was tall enough to reach the pedals and see over the dashboard, was allowed to steer while the automatic car rolled forward on drive at under 10km/h. His father had control of the brakes.
'Next thing I knew the police appeared in a very dramatic fashion, screeching to a halt in a police van. Four policemen jumped out. They arrested both of us - pretty traumatic for a 10-year-old.
'The whole thing scared him very much. As for me, I have a tremendous amount of guilt because it was my fault my 10-year-old child got arrested.'
Mr Burden questioned whether it was necessary to subject a minor to the experience that ensued. He said police had the option of issuing a verbal warning but decided to arrest them instead. Both father and son were taken to the North Point police station and questioned for six hours before being released on HK$1,000 bail each. The Department of Justice ultimately decided to prosecute Mr Burden but not his son. However, during the five months that followed their arrest, Louis had to report to the station at least six times before getting a superintendent's warning last Wednesday, Mr Burden said.
Police have said that anyone - regardless of age - must be arrested for breaking the law.
