Stamford Hill: boy fined £20 for sticking lit fireworks in pockets of Jewish passers-by

The boy was arrested after being handed over to police. Photograph: Shomrim

A campaign group in Stamford Hill has attacked the “disturbingly light” punishment dished out to a teenage boy who put lit fireworks in the pockets of Jewish people passing by.

The 14-year-old was fined £20 after being arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault in January this year.

None of the victims were hurt, and the boy was later caught by neighbourhood watch group Shomrim, who handed him over to police.

After sentencing, Moshe Monitz, Supervisor at Stamford Hill Shomrim, said: “The outcome in this case unfortunately sends out the wrong message to victims, a sense of why bother if justice will not be served.

“The CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] and Ministry of Justice should consider the impact that a crime has upon its victim and the message it sends to all victims in general.

“There is so much talk about a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime, but it is important that it should not be mere words, it is the action that demonstrates how serious the words are.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “A 14-year-old male who was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault has been dealt with by the Hackney Youth Offender Panel.

“Police had been called at around 8am on Sunday 31 January to Dunsmure Road, N16, to reports of a youth assaulting members of the Jewish community.

“He was referred to the Hackney Youth Offender Panel for the above offence. A contract was issued having effect for an extended compliance period of two months and a total contract period 12 months. Also, compensation of £20 is to be paid.”