A question for the "Proper English" pendants

[Snoopy]

This report from the Telegraph concerns a 16 year old student throwing an egg at David Cameron. The question is can one be "De-arrested" or should it be "Un-arrested?

The Conservative  leader made light of the incident, which occurred after he had held a question and answer session with a group of students at Cornwall College, in Saltash near Plymouth.

Just as he was leaving the college’s library, a student wearing a grey hoodie top threw the egg, striking Mr Cameron on the right shoulder.
 
Parts of the egg, which broke on impact, made a mark on his white shirt and splashed on to a detective who was following Mr Cameron out of the door.

When the egg hit Mr Cameron made light of the incident, joking: “The first one of the campaign.”

The incident happened a day after Mr Cameron was accosted by a reporter dressed as a chicken suit who had been hired by a tabloid newspaper to follow him around for the first half of the election campaign.

Referring to that incident, he added: "I now can answer one of the fundamental questions of life, which came first the chicken of the egg? I know".

Emily Taylor, 24, a trainee midwife who witnessed the attack, said someone shouted as it struck: “You can’t do that, it’s David Cameron.”

The student who threw the egg was later led away by Mr Cameron’s security team and was seen being taken away by local police in a police van.

Students were shocked about the attack on Mr Cameron. One said: “We don’t want to let this one person give a bad image to Saltash College.”

College sources suggested that that the college would investigate the incident using its normal disciplinary procedures.

A spokesman for the college said: “We are extremely disappointed that the actions of one student marred this otherwise excellent opportunity to engage students in the election process.

“We are delighted that our students had the opportunity to meet David Cameron today to discuss issues relevant to them.

“It was a terrific event with some great questions and real interest in the election.”

Earlier Mr Cameron had answered questions ranging from voting reform to Britain’s role in Afghanistan during a half-hour long question and answer session.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: 'It was a 16-year-old student that threw an egg 'It didn't hit David Cameron but it hit someone else at the event. He was arrested but was de-arrested."

Personally I think it really should have been phrased better but what we have is what we have. Time to chew it over chaps and chapesses.


Quick edit to provide the source http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7614886/General-Election-2010-hoodie-throws-egg-at-David-Cameron.html

[Miss Demeanour]

Neither sound right 

It was an action that happened, to say you are undoing it seems wrong - surely it should have just said released without charge. Isn't that the normal protocol ?

[Snoopy]

Oh yes indeedy Miss D ~ but this is "Police-speak"

Un-arrested  X
De-arrested  X
Released without charge ✔
Spoken to and released ✔
Freed pending further enquiries ✔
Told to grow up and sent home to his Mother ✔


The problem is that the police frequently fall over their own tongues trying to be politically correct at the same time as being "official".

[Darwins Selection]

I believe that "arrested" and "un-arrested" are most commonly used as adjectives describing the state of the individual and "to de-arrest" is a (clumsy) verb describing what is done to him.

The waters are muddied by our wonderful language which has the past participle "arrested" as a transitive verb as well as an adjective.

On balance, although I don't like it, 'de-arrested' is probably correct.

[Barman]

I believe that "arrested" and "un-arrested" are most commonly used as adjectives describing the state of the individual and "to de-arrest" is a (clumsy) verb describing what is done to him.

The waters are muddied by our wonderful language which has the past participle "arrested" as a transitive verb as well as an adjective.

On balance, although I don't like it, 'de-arrested' is probably correct.

[Pastis]

... it should have just said released without charge. Isn't that the normal protocol ?

Or...  "arrested, but they let him go"

Personally I think the speed at which these reports are filed and published is crazy. There was a maxim that a manufacturing colleague used to say to customers when put under unreasonable pressure:
"D'you want it done quickly, or properly? Your choice!"

[The Moan Ranger]

"De-arrested", although it evacuates my mouth like a partially chewed ball of gristle.

Perhaps my current "New Deal" mindset is to blame.

[Miss Demeanour]

I believe that "arrested" and "un-arrested" are most commonly used as adjectives describing the state of the individual and "to de-arrest" is a (clumsy) verb describing what is done to him.

The waters are muddied by our wonderful language which has the past participle "arrested" as a transitive verb as well as an adjective.

On balance, although I don't like it, 'de-arrested' is probably correct.

You terrify me sometimes 

[Darwins Selection]

I believe that "arrested" and "un-arrested" are most commonly used as adjectives describing the state of the individual and "to de-arrest" is a (clumsy) verb describing what is done to him.

The waters are muddied by our wonderful language which has the past participle "arrested" as a transitive verb as well as an adjective.

On balance, although I don't like it, 'de-arrested' is probably correct.

You terrify me sometimes 

[Miss Demeanour]

If you were my teacher like 

[Just One More]

If you were my teacher like 

. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnOI7G0rJ18

[Snoopy]

If you were my teacher like 

Steady girl ~ don't turn his thoughts toward Gym Slips, Ankle Socks and Spanking or the nurse will never get him settled for the night.

[Darwins Selection]

If you were my teacher like 

Steady girl ~ don't turn his thoughts toward Gym Slips, Ankle Socks and Spanking or the nurse will never get him settled for the night.

Said Mr Pendant the dog. 

[Snoopy]

If you were my teacher like 

Steady girl ~ don't turn his thoughts toward Gym Slips, Ankle Socks and Spanking or the nurse will never get him settled for the night.

Said Mr Pendant the dog.