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Could throwing a snowball land you in jail?

Nick Reilly
·Contributor
Heavy snow in parts of Britain is causing disruptions to road, rail and air travel and has forced hundreds of schools across the country to close. (AP Photo/Tony Hicks)
Heavy snow in parts of Britain is causing disruptions to road, rail and air travel and has forced hundreds of schools across the country to close. (AP Photo/Tony Hicks)

Large parts of the UK have woken up to see the country transformed into a winter wonderland, with several inches of snow falling in some areas overnight.

In Scotland and the North East, roads have been closed – and those heading to work have been advised to take extra care.

Over 556 schools have been closed, offering thousands of pupils across the UK the chance to enjoy the snow with their friends.

But while snowball fights might seem like the height of wintry fun, it’s worth being aware that taking it too far could potentially land you in trouble with the law.

When contacted by Yahoo News UK, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police claimed that the risk of arrest was ‘hypothetical’, but confirmed that an arrest could be on the cards if the person hit by a snowball deems it to be an assault.

Strong winds and snow are seen in Northumberland, Britain February 28, 2018 (Nicola Jackson/via REUTERS).
Strong winds and snow are seen in Northumberland, Britain February 28, 2018 (Nicola Jackson/via REUTERS).

‘It could [lead to arrest] in some instances, it depends on the severity of it’, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson warned.

In 2015, a similarly stark warning came from Staffordshire Police’s Inspector Paul Johnson.

‘No one wants to prevent youngsters having a good time enjoying the snowy weather but there is a point where fun stops and danger begins’, he said.

‘Pelting people with snowballs can be counted as anti-social behaviour and can result in a prosecution.

‘Some snowballs have the potential to cause injury to people or damage to property, especially if they contain stones.’

After initially hitting the North, large parts of London and the South East woke up to their first proper coatings of snow this morning.

‘The capital is waking up to quite a covering of snow this morning, as is much of the east coast’, Met Office forecaster Helen Roberts said.

‘We’ve seen a couple of hours of really heavy snow in London, which was enough to give a few centimetres. Further north has seen even more snow, and the disruption is likely to continue throughout the morning in these areas.

‘It will also be another bitterly cold day – even colder than yesterday, with a stronger wind chill.’