I watch this soap, along with the local news (Tyne Tees) everyday - it is just part of our daily routine. Numerous storylines have become a little unbelievable lately and when I saw Joanie locked up overnight for an assualt - I found it far fetched that this would happen. When later, she was then told that for 'accidently' hitting a Police Officer, she would be kept in a cell until she could appear in court, I just cringed at the asses who write this - I know it fits the story that Kyle will have to be looked after by Cain - but really?
And BTW - sponsored link - I liked the families watching the show, got attached almost; the new links with scriptwriters are dire - they fit what we are actually seeing on the broadcast show at the moment - Bollocks

I think you'll find you can actually get locked up for punching somebody.

can I'm sure - but this story is crap

It's assault.
Assaulting a police officer is quite serious.

Exactly. A lot of people complain about lack of realism in soaps - this is one of those occasions where it's realistic.

One of the more real storylines running at the moment, only one thing seems odd is a person never before violent I think she was a teacher at some point ? Chooses to hit someone in the first place.

Joannie was a teacher when she first came into the show; I think she gave up her career to raise her daughter's adopted son. I didn't understand why she didn't go back to teaching, instead of working in the sweet factory; the school hours would have coincided better with Kyle's nursery hours. The storyliners/ writers have ruined her character.

That's a good point, also she could have worked part time and made more than minimum wage in the factory.

I'll never understand why police officers are more important when it comes to assault.

For what it's worth though, Joanie didn't mean to hit him and she was very apologetic. Police officers on TV can never look at things like that objectively though. It's always "omg you hit a copper, you're going down!".

Happy New Year everyone

Because we have policing by consent, they are virtually unarmed and have to be respected absolutely to enable them to do their jobs safely.

She may have tried to do that for all we know and there may not have been any teaching jobs available.

That is what is bugging me most about this - after all she is not really Kerry's biggest fan is she? Hitting seems so out of character even though she is grieving over Zak. Strange.

I never really get why people get so caught up in the sponsors before Emmerdale... it's literally about a 15 second clip that gets shown. It's like when they got rid of the scarecrows and people were actually signing petitions about it! I never even really pay any attention to the clips before it whether it's scarecrows, the families or the new scriptwriters! It doesn't really matter in the great scheme of things what the sponsor shows!

I respect the Police, the job they do is scutinized beyond belief, but I believe an officer in that situation shouldn't have escalated it, it was accidental and she was being provoked unneccessarily - I think her previously good conduct and her apology would have also have been considered. The Police are usually painted out to be unreasonable or clueless in Soap Operas!

She's Kerry's closest friend and ally.

Its ok though as he does it for the son that he all of a sudden cares about...

Sorry that has passed me by - not surprising really as I tend to tune Kerry out!

I just thought that, when she first came to the village, she was most wary of Kerry and after Kerry nearly set the children on fire I didn't realise that she had made things up to that extent.

I don't blame you with the way she has been written of late.

Joanie moved in with Kerry - while she was wary of her at the beginning she'd seen that Kerry had turned over a new leaf and was trying to be responsible. All that's gone down the drain but they remain friends.

She could have done supply teaching. Joannie used to be a headteacher. I know many retired ex head teachers who do supply teaching at £150.00 a day. All she'd have to do is do 2 days and that would be more than a weeks wage in a factory. The scriptwriters just don't know how to do their research. Joannie could also do private tutoring. SATS maths tutoring is £25.00 an hour.

Thank you for the clarification Samcains.

Yep it was an accident not deliberate but they always have to make these things more serious than necessary when it comes to police officers on soapsl

The difference being the small matter of reporting it to the police. A bit like noone reported Dross for putting people into comas, Dan has not reported Cain. If it's s reported to the police they have to take it seriously. Joanie not getting bail seemed daft though.

You mean the son he' s been seeing for over a year?

There's a difference between seeing your son, and actually caring about him though. I'm just not buying it, it just gives Cain another chance to knock someone out and get praised for it.