Having lodged a formal complaint, Reuben’s mother, Hilary Ibhagbemien, described her son as “absolutely traumatised” by what had been “his first interaction with the police”.
“There’s just no need for it because he listens and is compliant and respectful.
“So they could have just spoken to him like the child he is,” she said.
His father Callum Reddish added that, as the father of a black child, he had already given Reuben “the conversation” about possibly being stopped and searched by police at some point.
“It’s something that happened to me, as well as to my own dad when he was young,” he said.
“So it’s not a new problem, but I didn’t expect it to be happening to Reuben in Year 7.
“No adult should be dealing with a child as though they are an adult, it’s that simple.”
