The incident, which reportedly left the victim with a small red mark, was recorded as a ‘violent crime’, Norfolk’s police and crime commissioner Stephen Bett said.
The “jaw-dropping” incident was one of many that had contributed to a 14% rise in crime in Norfolk, he said.
“I am sure people will find these examples of what the police are having to record as violent crime hard to believe to say the least,” he said.
Violent crime
“The last thing I want to do is to trivialise any incident where there is a victim, but I am struggling to see how someone being hit by a biscuit or brushed by a stinging nettle fits anyone’s idea of a violent crime.”
There was a danger that when people see a headline that ‘violent crime is up in Norfolk’ the fear of crime could rise, he added.
“That is why I feel it is important to highlight this issue and make people aware,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hunstanton police has launched an investigation after 200 bundles of asparagus was stolen from the Pockthorpe area of the county.
Other crimes mentioned included:
- A young child swung a boxing glove and caught his small sibling with it was recorded as ABH
- One child brushed a stinging nettle across a friend’s arm was recorded as ABH
- One child rode into his friend whilst playing on bikes was recorded as an assault