British granny, 93, ‘arrested’ as a bucket list wish after being ‘good all her life’

One of Britain’s largest police forces apparently arrested a 93-year-old woman who had committed no crime because it was her “dying wish”.

In a tweet that received more than a thousand likes, Pam Smith wrote to Greater Manchester police to thank them for the gesture towards her grandmother, Josie Birds.

“A big thank you to @gmpolice for ‘arresting’ my Gran Josie today,” she said. “She is 93 years old and her health is failing, and she wanted to be arrested for something before it’s too late. She has a heart of gold and thoroughly enjoyed it today. Thank you for granting her wishes.”

Smith said that Greater Manchester police had “made an old lady very happy” by arresting her grandmother, adding: “She is quite poorly and wanted to do something like this while she still has the strength to enjoy it. She’s been good all her life (she says …) and wanted to have an experience to remember! She’s a star.” 

Greater Manchester police said in a statement: “A few weeks ago, a member of the community approached a GMP PCSO from the North Manchester division with a slightly unusual request.

“The woman mentioned that her 93-year-old grandmother had a request on her bucket list that she was hoping GMP would help her fulfil.

“The request was for the grandmother to be ‘arrested’ and be taken to one of our police stations so she could experience what it was like to be on the wrong side of the law.”

Chief Inspector Denise Pye of the force’s City of Manchester division said: “The focus of our PCSOs is heavily driven by our community and how we can support them … On this occasion, and for a short period of time – we were able to fulfil the wishes of an elderly lady, and give her a day to remember.

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“We can reassure the rest of the community that while this was happening, officers from across the area were continuing with their duties to ensure this short visit had no impact whatsoever on the wider area.

“We want the community to feel reassured in our presence and comfortable in approaching any of our officers when they see us out and about.

“We’re glad to see that we were able to make an elderly lady smile and tick one thing off her bucket list.”

It is not the first incident of its kind. In March, Anne Brokenbrow, 104, had her wish of being arrested granted, after relaying her desire to her Bristol care home.

Brokenbrow said it was an enjoyable experience: “I had a lovely day, it was interesting. Nothing like that ever happened to me before. They put the handcuffs on, I had the lot.”