Children arrested, DNA tested, interrogated and locked up... for playing in a tree

Children arrested, DNA tested, interrogated and locked up... for playing in a tree
By KHUSHWANT SACHDAVE, Daily Mail 22:27pm 23rd July 2006

Kids locked up for playing in a tree

Locked up in custody for two hours: Tree-climbing friends Katy Smith, left, Sam Cannon and Amy Higgins

To the 12-year-old friends planning to build themselves a den, the cherry tree seemed an inviting source of material.

But the afternoon adventure turned into a frightening ordeal for Sam Cannon, Amy Higgins and Katy Smith after they climbed into the 20ft tree - then found themselves hauled into a police station and locked in cells for up to two hours.

Their shoes were removed and mugshots, DNA samples and mouth swabs were taken.