Nursery rhymes set to music are deeply uncool. Just ask the bottle-throwing teenagers on the Twinbrook estate on outskirts of west Belfast. Ice cream music was played to them as they misbehaved and it stopped them.
In an action that was cleverly psychological, the nursery tunes were blasted through the loudspeakers of a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) armored Land Rover after the patrol came under attack from about 15 teenagers last weekend.
The police have said no further action was taken. However it's understood that senior officers have taken a dim view of the successful tactic.
'The crew passed a group of around 15 youths who threw bottles at their Land Rover police vehicle,' a PSNI spokesman told the Belfast Telegraph.
'An officer used the vehicle's loudspeaker system to play music to the youths in an effort to use humor to defuse the situation. The youths stopped throwing the bottles. However police accept that this was not an appropriate action. The officer has been spoken to by a senior officer in order to establish the circumstances of the incident.'
Among those who did not see the funny side was Sinn Fein councilor Angela Nelson. “It was a very immature way for police to deal with a very serious problem,” she said. We have serious issues with on-street drinking and the anti-social behavior that results from that on-street drinking. I would have expected the PSNI to have a more mature outlook and not to come up and play ice cream tunes.”
Nelson dismissed the PSNI’s statement which said the music had defused a tense situation.
'That is a very good excuse when they have been caught out. It’s waffle. Where in the world does a police service say that their way of dealing with anti-social behavior is through humor?'
The answer to Nelson's question is Los Angeles. The Drew Street gang was for years one of the most dangerous street gangs in northeast L.A. Hooded gang members lurked behind parked cars and on apartment balconies. At night, tires squealed and gunshots echoed while neighbors huddled in their homes.
In response to the nightly terror the City renamed the streets where the gang congregated Gay Street and Pansy Square. Overnight, after the name change, the gang no longer congregated there and crime decreased.
Perhaps there's more to this humorous and psychological approach than may initially meet the eye.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.helmet365 | Jul 31, 2011, 06:30 PM EDT
Quiet gentle music was used some years ago in the Hobart Australia mall or city square where lots of spirited youths gathered. It had a calming effect on their behavoir.
lynchciaran | Apr 20, 2011, 06:09 AM EDT
it works, its cheap and its pretty funny. I can see the problem with it. I bet you would a great reaction with so many songs example Y.M.C.A. On another note Nelson your a first grade clown
aloistmartin | Apr 19, 2011, 08:13 PM EDT
Perhaps a Large Billboard of Kate and Willie ....
beloverelf | Apr 19, 2011, 05:12 PM EDT
Whatever works.
LouGuyt | Apr 19, 2011, 12:28 PM EDT
Obviously, Angela Nelson has NO humor! Also, it worked, didn't it???
badolan | Apr 19, 2011, 10:37 AM EDT
I believe that this was a very smart strategy. It worked, nobody was hurt. Perhaps that was not the intention but what a useful tactic.
1irishgirl | Jan 02, 2011, 11:14 PM EST
As long as the sitch was difused and no one got hurt and the kids involved wud prob think twice about doin it again.. whats the prob? Some people are too uptight for no good reason!!! Its Ireland for Gods sake!!! We were reared on Humour!!! Stupid bloody woman!! Know your area and your people b4 goin on record as saying something so monumentally stupid!!!
AWard04 | Dec 26, 2010, 03:47 PM EST
By doing this, they took the power away from the kids. Perfect move, in my opinion. Any other response would have escalated the situation and resulted in injuries. No one was hurt, maybe their pride...but that doesn't require a hospital trip.
JeffGallagher | Dec 19, 2010, 04:05 PM EST
I suppose Nelon think the police should have gotten out of their vehicles, lined up in riot formation and shot the teenagers with rubber bullets and tear gas. It's just that kind of rote thinking that maintains the fearful image of the police state of Ireland when it is obvious that this officer went out on a limb to defuse a potentially deadly situation. The Irish have outlawed guns. Maybe they should outlaw ice cream trucks.
Towngate | Dec 19, 2010, 03:49 PM EST
When the Dublin Metropolitan Police in 1916 heard that a poet and his pals had taken up 'armed positions'and were pretending to have captured the City, they should have gone out and clipped their ears and kicked their arses and sent them crying home to their Mammy's wailing that the English won't let them fight for the country,it might not be in the pathetic state it is in today!
shdwolf1 | Dec 19, 2010, 02:01 PM EST
7-11 convenience stores, here in the US, were having problems with youth troublemakers congregating outside the stores causing problems. When they started playing classical music, the kids found other places to congregate...I guess if that'd happened in Ireland, officials woulda said it was childish and not the civilized way to deal with the problem...I know, arm the clerks and have them shoot anyone standing around...so stupid...
shdwolf1 | Dec 19, 2010, 01:58 PM EST
I guess it's not just american public officials who are incompetent. Why don't they listen to the public they're supposed to serve? If playing offbeat music defuses a situation, what's the problem? Would the officials rather the cops got out and waded in with automatic weapons and batons? If it works, for crying out loud, don't fix it!
ancientscribber | Dec 18, 2010, 01:00 PM EST
It is obvious that some sad-short-sighted-police-officials and perverted-political-prima-donnas would rather have bloodshed than good innovative ideas used to the same effect in keeping the peace. I applaud the officer with the music. Give us his name and address and we will show our appreciation for his imagination and humanity.
killowen | Dec 17, 2010, 05:14 PM EST
Down the toilet is the state of that island. The International Monetary Fund has warned that the Government may have to introduce further budget measures if it is to meet its target of reducing the deficit to 3% of gross domestic product by 2015 He also said that the IMF agreed with the view of Finance Minister Brian Lenihan that there was no way a country whose banks were so dependent on international investors could unilaterally renege on senior bondholders, as the systemic impact of doing so would be too great. The IMF says the threat to other euro zone countries from Ireland's problems is significant, as markets believe other countries face similar vulnerabilities.
lakeisle | Dec 17, 2010, 09:31 AM EST
I agree with everyone else! Hopefully the Police authority who told off the officer for using his good intelligence sees what all the good citizens below are thinking.
CarolineRyan | Sep 09, 2010, 09:58 AM EDT
I think the officer's approach was excellent. Why on earth isn't the PSNI using more unusual, creative tactics to get young people to stop destructive behavior? The Troubles proved that beating people with batons and shooting rubber bullets at them doesn't solve Anything, and constituted abuse. Why would this officer be reprimanded for such clever thinking? And why on earth would a Sinn Fein councillor object to that sort of nonviolent method of dispersal? - Caroline Oceana Ryan, author - AN OLD CASTLE STANDING ON A FORD: One Yank's Life in an Almost Peaceful Belfast
ladygirl | Sep 08, 2010, 09:18 PM EDT
Hey, if it stopped them, and there was no use of force then WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?!!? Sinn Fein councilor Angela Nelson. “It was a very immature way for police to deal with a very serious problem." I Think the behavior of the youths was very immature. The music got results with no force - it's all good.
mkjudge | Aug 15, 2010, 05:23 PM EDT
totally ingenious :)
peterson | Aug 11, 2010, 07:50 PM EDT
It worked didn't it ?? Sometimes protocol is not the best way !!
irishelvis | Aug 08, 2010, 11:40 AM EDT
i got bim bam banana pops, dixie cups, all flavors an push ups too---im ya ice cream man stop me when im passing by...they say all a my flavors are guaranteed ta satisfy......
CityGirl1 | Aug 01, 2010, 09:28 AM EDT
Good for them! They deserve a lot of credit for thinking of that move! It worked and that's all that should matter to their superiors! Enough said!
Mayosligo | Aug 01, 2010, 09:19 AM EDT
I applaud the police's humerous and nonviolent handling of this situation. Good for them!
irishger | Jul 31, 2010, 08:42 AM EDT
Hilarious but it did the trick! Maybe the Gardai should try it out here in the Republic too. Great idea and love the way the LA cops did it and had the streets renamed - Dublin City Council take note!!!
hollabackgurl | Jul 22, 2010, 11:23 AM EDT
The next time they have a riot the cops should play Rick Astley.
RthrBHistCorr | Jul 21, 2010, 10:16 AM EDT
Why are these cops being taken to task? They diffused the situation and no one was hurt. I guess their superiors are still longing for the days of tear gas and plastic bullets.
feliciamaisey | Jul 21, 2010, 08:47 AM EDT
I think it was brilliant on the part of the police officers--no physical altercation, no-one was subjected to further throwing of dangerous materials and everyone went home no worse for the wear. The upper crusties need to grow up and get a sense of humor; if they did violent outbreaks might be relieved.
krisdaly | Jul 14, 2010, 08:46 PM EDT
WE NOW REFER TO THESE HOOLIGANS AS THE "LOLLY-POP-KIDS"!!!!!!!!
krisdaly | Jul 14, 2010, 08:44 PM EDT
THESE "HOOLIGANS" SHOULD BE REFERRED TO AS THE "LOLLY-POP-KIDS"!!!!!!!!! .....and the young shall be their oppressors!!!!!!!
general1969 | Jul 14, 2010, 11:06 AM EDT
Whatever works...as long as it is not illegal or immoral! After giving out traffic tickets I used to play the Queen tune, ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST! The younger drivers did not want to get a ticket from me, as it was embarassing for them. Of course, my chief chided me for that and I had to curb my on duty humor!
Katybeth | Jul 07, 2010, 11:35 AM EDT
It WORKED!!! These officers thought outside the box and produced non violent results. Their superiors should "Grow Up!"
Searlit | Jul 04, 2010, 11:35 AM EDT
It's hard to believe someone from Sinn Fein said that. It sounds like a novel approach and it worked. Better to annoy them into obeying the law than arresting them or using violence on them.
JimThompson | Jul 04, 2010, 10:24 AM EDT
Thought the police were pretty smart to defuse the situation without arrests, etc.
missly1212 | Jun 30, 2010, 11:26 PM EDT
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pfiddle | Jun 30, 2010, 05:04 PM EDT
Hoi Get a grip. The kids dispersed didn't they Both the Shinners AND the PSNI need to use ANY tactic to quell the louts - even if it means wearing frilly pink knickers. Sod 'em we should be all past that now. (Note - not the frilly knickers)
BullLee | Jun 28, 2010, 02:10 PM EDT
It worked, so what's all the indignant fuss about? I agree with the earlier posts as well.
ciarrai | Jun 27, 2010, 12:13 PM EDT
What a novel approach. The Sinn Fein pol clearly couldn't tell her arse from her elbow. Maybe the city of New Haven, Ct. ought to consider renaming Newhallville which has a lot of crime "Newfaggotville" and see if things calm down a bit (the criminals probably don't realize that a faggot is a pile of sticks, too). Whatever works.
IrishEyes89 | Jun 18, 2010, 09:52 PM EDT
Angela Nelson calls the music playing "immature." No, Angela you twit. What is immature is bashing the heads of rowdy youths and stepping on their throats with a steel-tipped boot. One has to wonder where these people are coming from and why they would be against peaceful tactics to control situations. Are they secretly gestapo?
Fatherpat | Jun 18, 2010, 11:20 AM EDT
Ah begobs you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. I suppose if the bed time story copper with the sense of humour got out and did a Seattle on the yobs, punching them in the face for jaywalking and then a dose of the ould tazer then there would be no reason to complain. It just goes to show you that most people like nothing better than senseless violence! Why don't people finally understand that there is nothing more powerful than loving your enemy and a hug and a kiss is often the most powerful weapon we have.
TipooTip | Jun 18, 2010, 10:59 AM EDT
Astonishing. A policeman uses his intelligence to control and deconflict a situation, and some moronic senior officers - more used to spending time on their expenses than on their feet - together with the least useful 'politicians' in the country complain; doubtless they would all have been more satisfied to have seen damaged vehicles, youths with blood on their heads and policemen with compensation claims in the 'out' tray. That would have fulfilled their prejudices amply. I thought that the Police Force in this country was supposed to have grown into one of the world's leading examples of competent 'community' policing. I was very clearly wrong.
jacersisityourself | Jun 17, 2010, 02:57 PM EDT
Is there any truth in the rumour that the PSNI are going to discard the ice cream van sound and in future use vuvuzela sounds?
conchobhar | Jun 17, 2010, 04:04 AM EDT
A number of years ago crime, panhandling, loitering and drinking in New York's Port Authority Bus Terminal took a precipitous drop. More police? No. CCTV? No. The piped in music was changed from rock to classical. Music and humor rather than busting heads? I like it.
moygannon | Jun 16, 2010, 05:03 PM EDT
I don't think Angela Nelson will gain much from attacking a simple method that worked. She has no idea of street level activity.
hollabackgurl | Jun 08, 2010, 03:31 PM EDT
I think what they did is funny and quite smart. Yobs are yobs, it doesn't matter what denomination they are. They were seen off in style.
killowen | Jun 07, 2010, 06:32 PM EDT
I thought spraying prune juice on such British chaps might be of use in tracking 'em down that yellow brick road.
Strongbow | Jun 07, 2010, 04:30 PM EDT
The PSNI clearly over-reached in this case. It is another example of insidious and underhanded police brutality and abuse. Maybe Sinn Fein could pair up with Amnesty Intl. to demand an inquiry into this violation of our youth's dignity and sense of self-worth. How do we expect these youth to grow up to be responsible upstanding citizens when instead of receiving positive affirmations they are being BOMBarded with these confidence sapping tunes.
traveler51 | Jun 01, 2010, 01:43 PM EDT
Let's review the story. What could have turned into violent action due to normal agressive police action was stopped by music? I am sure he was laughing all the while. The officer should have been complimented for resolving the problem without confrontation!
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TraveLynn | May 31, 2010, 06:26 PM EDT
I'm still laughing at Gay Street and Pansy Square... at least these methods did not hurt anyone and they worked!
Costaprint | May 31, 2010, 11:10 AM EDT
They should name the senior police officers and Angela Nelson the “PANSY GANG” !!! Sinn Féin should kick Angela Nelson out – when the RUC were brutal to offenders they were baddies and now when the PSNI use humane and clever tactics she decries them. SHAME ON YOU NELSON.
killowen | May 31, 2010, 09:47 AM EDT
Spraying with prune juice might wise 'em up. Who knew?
IrishAndProud | May 30, 2010, 08:45 PM EDT
Excellent idea. It does no harm to anyone or anything (beyond possibly bruising some hostile ego's), and it prevents further damage or injury. It's actually quite funny, that this was done. I can just imagine what was going through the young ones' heads, as this stuff started wafting out above their fray ("What the --?!!! NNNNAAARRGGGH!"). What a PERFECT way to deal with this!
broedersvl | May 30, 2010, 08:18 PM EDT
When my class of 9th graders (boys) would get exceptionally unruly I would play Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, every movement. After school, of course.
mhichil | May 30, 2010, 05:07 PM EDT
when political struggles become serious , Angela, they become deadly too.Most crime is a socio economic problem. I think it is a brilliant idea. It must be difficult to look tough on the corner of Faeriy and Quare Quay
Mairin67 | May 30, 2010, 03:54 PM EDT
I think it is brilliant what this officer did. Public humiliation is a powerful tool...it should be used more often.
beachline | May 30, 2010, 11:11 AM EDT
HOORAY for the officer who thought of a way to difuse what could have become a dangerous situation. Perhaps the commanders of PSNI could use a little more humor in what is surely a difficult job.
jacersisityourself | May 28, 2010, 04:56 PM EDT
I think the point that sweetypie is missing is that it's all about what turns you off or on. Clearly police sirens turn on some young people's aggressive behaviour button. The Ice Cream van bells turn it off. I could write a book about what turns on a woman but only a few paragraphs about what turns on man. Ice Cream anyone? Chocolate dips free.
sweetypie | May 28, 2010, 01:24 PM EDT
If the object of police response is to break up dangerous gang activity, I'd rather police use whatever means are handy to do so without injuring bystanders. In this case, the PSNI venture worked! Sounds like those complaining need to get a better perspective and sense of humor!