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Shopping centre forces girl, 4, to take off her 'hoodie'
Last updated at 22:37pm on 07.09.07
Karen Lewis, 4, was forced to take down her hood on a visit to a shopping centre
In her pink cardigan and standing a mere 3ft6in, fouryearold Karen Lewis hardly looks a menace to society.
But that didn't stop staff at a seaside amusement arcade reducing the little girl to tears by warning her she was flouting company rules on hooded tops.
A worker explained to Karen's mother, Cheryl, that it was company policy to insist customers pulled down their hoods, in case yobs used them to conceal their identity while causing trouble.
The incident took place while Karen was playing on a 2p slot machine at Les Harker's Amusements in the North Wales resort of Rhyl, where she was on holiday with her mother and grandparents.
Miss Lewis, 36, a mature student from Shrewsbury, said: "I appreciate there is bad publicity about hoodies, but a four-year-old girl is an entirely different issue.
"Bearing in mind that I'm disabled and my father, who was with us, is 69, we were hardly posing a threat. It is just ludicrous.
"Karen was really unhappy for the rest of her holiday because she thought she was to blame.
"We had a few tears in the car on the way home. She still thought the men were picking on her because she was little."
Arcade owner Les Harker, who was not present at the time, confirmed the policy but said he would usually ask "with a smile and a gag" to ensure no one took offence.
He added: "I am disappointed this has happened. I think it's a case not of what the staff member said, but how it was said."
Reader views (10)
It doesn't surprise me - I was shocked last year when a woman in Blockbusters Prestatyn yelled at my boys 'and boys could you tell mummy we have a no-hoods policy here!', bearing in mind they were 6 year old boys, accompanied by their mother, on a cold day!
I was offended actually, I can see the point with gangs of teenagers but come on...!
- Ceri, Prestatyn, prestatyn
Making a 4 year old remove her hoodie? That's almost the stupidist thing I have ever heard.
- Ben Dover, New York
Of course they shouldn't have asked to take it off. She's four years old. It's a bit different to a group of teenagers isn't it? Whatever happened to common sense? Clearly the staff in this case as we read in countless other cases up and down the country decided that it was a case of "You must obey ze orders" irrespective of how ridiculous they are. A sad reflection indeed on our country.
- Ian, London
The way things are happening these days I wouldn't be surprised by a headline of a 4yr old receiving an ASBO, so they are right to ask the child to take her hood off.
- Jade, London
Of course it was the right thing to do! so you don't refuse a 4 yr old then why should a 5 yr old be banned come to think of it 6 is a reasonable age not to bar them, of course 7 yrs old is still only a child, 8 then 9 even lets say 10. and so it goes.
How many times have we seen in videos and in the media 7 - 10 yr olds jumping on other people's cars - ruining elderly peoples lives tormenting them.
If there is a rule then 3 yrs - 99 yrs should obey them.
But once again it is the parent that complains.
- Pat, sussex
I've been with a group that was refused entry to a club because one of the group was wearing a top with a hood - he did not have the hood up and the bloke was 45 years old!
I'm not that bothered about being refused entry to the place, we just won't go back there, but being refused entry and told it was because of our 45 year old 'hoodie' really wound me up!
- Tony, Hull
I think this is absolutely unbelievable and this chap clearly has an unbelievable ego.
- Adrian Murphy, Chester
It should be illegal for anyone without an ounce of common sense to be in charge of anything.
- Thamas Spencer, Walsall, West Midlands
A hood is a hood. How can we ban teenagers from wearing them and not anyone that would be age discrimination. Parents should realise this is for their own safety and that of the public and EVERYONE should abide by it, regardless of age.
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
How absurd! I hope parents of all young children boycott this amusement arcade and its nasty management.
- Terry Roll, London
