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A missing Pokémon set was a big deal to a young boy in the Nineties. The cards were treasured and traded, and children who could not join in the swapping huddles would feel left out.
So when Tresfaye Smith's friend mislaid his set, he was more than upset. His father accused 12-year-old Tresfaye of stealing the cards - and called the police.
Most people have now forgotten Pokémon, but 11 years on, Tresfaye is still branded by the incident. For he was marched to the police station, where a swab was taken and his DNA profile posted on the national database. The boy protested his innocence throughout and no further action was taken. "The police dropped the case," he said. "Nothing happened in the end, but it is unfair being 12 and having your DNA there. At that age it seems to me the sort of thing that the police should just call your Mum about instead. It seems a bit of an overreaction when it is over Pokémon. It's kind of worrying too because you don't know what they...
So when Tresfaye Smith's friend mislaid his set, he was more than upset. His father accused 12-year-old Tresfaye of stealing the cards - and called the police.
Most people have now forgotten Pokémon, but 11 years on, Tresfaye is still branded by the incident. For he was marched to the police station, where a swab was taken and his DNA profile posted on the national database. The boy protested his innocence throughout and no further action was taken. "The police dropped the case," he said. "Nothing happened in the end, but it is unfair being 12 and having your DNA there. At that age it seems to me the sort of thing that the police should just call your Mum about instead. It seems a bit of an overreaction when it is over Pokémon. It's kind of worrying too because you don't know what they...