Police called out in boy's birthday cake candle health and safety row
POLICE were called to a three-year-old's party – after a health and safety dispute over lighting candles on the youngster's birthday cake.
Officers attended Rumble Tumble children's play centre, in Hanley, after a female worker claimed she was being intimidated by the family of toddler Oscar Barlow.
The dispute started after staff objected to the family wanting to light candles on the cake they had brought into the Broom Street centre.
It was claimed that the lighting of birthday candles had to be supervised by staff in a specific area of the centre for health and safety reasons.
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Following an argument, mum Natasha Bent and her family went into the car park to light the candles.
And they were stunned when the police arrived on the scene.
Natasha, aged 27, of St Michael's Road, Pitshill, said: "We've been to Rumble Tumble a few times, so we decided to go there for Oscar's birthday.
"We'd already been to Alton Towers, so it was just a last minute thing, we hadn't booked a birthday party.
"When we were there we brought in Oscar's birthday cake from the car, but just as we were going to light the candles they told us we couldn't.
"All we wanted to do was sing Happy Birthday and have Oscar blow out the candles. We just tried to reason with a staff member, but she said we were bullying her and told us to leave, saying she was going to call the police.
"In the end we went outside and lit the candles in the car park. Oscar and the other children started crying when the police turned up."
Staffordshire Police arrived within half-an-hour of the call just before 6pm on Thursday.
Natasha's partner David Meir, aged 32, said: "When the police officer told us the staff member had accused us of intimidating her, I just laughed. We weren't acting aggressively. I had my two sons with me so there's no way I'd do that in front of them."
Rumble Tumble refused to respond to The Sentinel's telephone inquiries.
A police spokesman said: "Officers established the dispute was over the level of service received and advice was given to all involved."
Comments
by markbb
Saturday, May 19 2012, 9:20AM
“natasha your gorgeous”
by NextDimension
Friday, May 18 2012, 11:12PM
“Ha ha ! , someone fell for my H&S spoof comments.
I was only taking the mik out of the over the top compliance 'culture', and the marxist thought police who try to bully people who don't conform.
I do feel sorry for Natasha, her partner & Oscar's problems at the party centre.
(do I get any cake now ?)”
by Pantofola
Friday, May 18 2012, 10:31PM
“Health and Safety law needs abolishing.
No candles on the kids birthday cake??? Absolute tosh.
This country has gone mad.”
by NextDimension
Friday, May 18 2012, 10:09PM
“While I have a little sympathy with Oscar & his family at the party centre, surely the most important issue here is the fact that non of the family that attended the party centre appear to have undergone any candle & bare flame awareness courses, or staff understanding & empathy awareness course -really shocking.
Judging by the over relaxed & complacement look on young Oscar's face, it seems that he should attend the relevant courses immediately, after all -you are never too young to get indoctrinated in the correct way to handle H&S issues, as should the rest of the family who wish to attend future 'birthday' events.
The fact young Oscar is holding the candle, even unlit, should be a cause of concern to all.
I don't want to appear overly harsh or too disciplinarian on this important subject, but I feel I have to spread the word where I can.
The more I do this, the more the police won't have to attend these kind of events & other similar ones, where people turn up without the correct safety & awareness documentation on them.
Staffordshire Constabulary now have to attend any family event such as the party venue, where proper documentation is not produced, even by the children -they are never to young to have H&S training, so they can teach other family members who flout the new rules.
Im'e sorry but it's true !”
by NextDimension
Friday, May 18 2012, 9:51PM
“?”
by Tabazan
Friday, May 18 2012, 11:50AM
“@mirbigmanagain
"…you mispelt fat."
And you mrbigmanagain misspelt 'mispelt'. Welcome back by the way.”
by Natashabent
Friday, May 18 2012, 8:29AM
“Thank you I thought so”
by Tabazan
Friday, May 18 2012, 1:27AM
“@Natashabent
Natasha, mrbigman is a well known 'troll' on this site; take a look at some of his other comments and you will see what I mean. He's only posting on this story to wind you up, and every time you reply he gets his kicks. So just ignore him, don't reply, and press the 'report' button to let the mods sort him out.”
by mrbigman
Friday, May 18 2012, 12:34AM
“Lol take chill pill nat baby .”
by Natashabent
Thursday, May 17 2012, 9:32PM
“Just because I misspell a few words an make a few shorter doesn't make me a"stokie bird" and I'm jut saying a lot more people wer interested so no I won't be doing a playboy centrefold to your disapoinyment I'm afraid so get a life n stop sitting and waiting to **** people off and argue with them! There's a lot more exciting things in the world other than your computer screen! N before you try and say it back to me I'm just simply trying to stick up for me and my son from you horrible heartless small minded people!!”