UK police criticised for not prosecuting woman who hit black boy with paddle

White suspect was arrested but police later told Antwon Forrest's family no further action was being taken

Police have been strongly criticised for not prosecuting a white woman who hit a 12-year-old black boy on the forehead with a paddle so forcefully he needed hospital treatment for a deep cut.

The woman was arrested following the incident at a riverside park near Bristol but three weeks later Avon and Somerset police informed the boy's family that no further action was being taken because the woman claimed she acted in self-defence and felt threatened".