Mock arrests raise £30k in 'bail' money for charity

A children's charity raised more than £30,000 by staging mock arrests of business men and women and holding them on bail.

Real police officers detained 12 volunteers at East Anglia Children's Hospices (EACH) in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

They were then asked to raid their contact books to raise at least £1,000 each to secure their release.

Michael O'Hagan, founder of MOH Consultancy, raised around £10,000 for the charity after being arrested for wearing shorts all year round.

He said getting involved was a "no-brainer", but going through the process was "eye-opening".

Being cuffed and bundled into a police van was a "little slap of reality", he said, that made him wonder what it was like for police officers and offenders during real-life arrests.

"I often wonder if other people look at the police [taking part in the mock arrests] and think why are they wasting their time doing that?" he added.

"But £30,000 for a couple of hours isn't wasting anybody's time and helps to highlight EACH."

Sgt Rob Taylor from the South Cambridgeshire Neighbourhood Policing Team was among those who staged the arrests.

"So often we are at the sharp end of policing, so it was great for our neighbourhood officers to pop in throughout the day, when not dealing with crimes, and help raise more than £30,000 for charity," he said.

"Community engagement is a vital part of the role we play in society and it's clear our officers benefitted from a different style of 'detainee' for the day."

As well as pleading with friends, families and colleagues for bail, the 'convicts' were read their rights, had their fingerprints taken, were made to wear grey tracksuits and plimsolls and fed prison food while being 'held' at the hospices.

The total raised may grow as the fundraising push will continue until 4 March, despite 'bail' having been met by most of the 'convicts'.

An EACH spokesperson said it was fitting they were able to pass the £28,500 mark as this was the amount needed to pay for a day of care at the hospice.

Around 850 children were supported by EACH across Milton, The Nook near Norwich and The Treehouse in Ipswich.

Hannah Forbester, a senior fundraiser at the charity, said she could be arrested by her colleagues for "forcing them to take part in wild fundraising challenges".

"EACH as a whole needs to raise just over £16.2m this year, so challenges like this are so important," she added.

The majority of the charity's funding came from donations and retail income. Around 15% came from central and local government and the NHS.

The hospice offers wellbeing activities, overnight stays and hydrotherapy for children with complex needs and disabilities, as well as providing support to young people with long-term illnesses and their families.

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