The story of Theo Rose, a 19-year-old from Halesowen, has sparked urgent debate about how police handle cases involving young victims—especially when those seeking help find themselves unexpectedly cast as offenders. According to BBC and an independent review reported by MixVale, Theo’s ordeal began in December 2023, when he reported being assaulted at his sixth form college. What followed was a series of procedural missteps and miscommunications that not only failed to resolve his complaint, but left him sanctioned for a crime he insisted he did not commit.
Theo’s journey into the labyrinth of the justice system started after a lecturer, who witnessed the attack, advised him to report the incident to West Midlands Police. He described being kicked and punched by another student, expecting the authorities to investigate and support him. Instead, in February 2024, police summoned him back to the station, where—according to a detailed report by the Office of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC)—he was “misled” into accepting a community resolution for affray, a charge involving the use or threat of violence.
Community resolutions are meant to deal with low-level offences outside of court, typically for first-time offenders, and require a clear admission of guilt and the victim’s agreement. But here’s the catch: Theo never admitted to violence. In fact, bodycam footage reviewed by the OPCC captured him telling officers, “I didn’t use or threaten violence towards [the other teenager].” The most relevant witness statement backed up his account. Yet, officers told him there was “overwhelming and contradictory evidence” against him, a claim that subsequent investigations did not support.
After the meeting at the station, Theo left with a signed community resolution—still unsure of what affray meant or what he’d actually admitted to. “He explained it to me and I still didn’t really understand,” Theo told BBC. Only after speaking with his parents did he realize the sanction could impact his future job prospects, since community resolutions, while not criminal records, appear on enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks required for certain professions.
His father, Rod Rose, a serving detective chief inspector at the time, immediately recognized that something was wrong. “My first words were, what have you admitted to Theo? And he said, ‘uh, I don’t know’,” Rod recalled. He helped Theo lodge a formal complaint with the police’s professional standards department. Their investigation found that officers had failed to follow proper procedures and had not made clear to Theo that he was being interviewed as a suspect, nor had they allowed him the opportunity to seek advice.
To complicate matters, officers later reclassified the case as two assaults—one with Theo as the victim and one as the offender—without informing him or securing his admission. The OPCC flagged this as a significant concern, noting that Theo may have been entitled to use “reasonable force” to defend himself. Their report concluded, “Although it appears unintended, [we] remain concerned that the document may have been signed under false pretences... It appears that Mr Rose had agreed to a resolution for one crime but it turned out to be another.”
In February 2025, West Midlands Police rescinded the community resolution and issued an apology to Theo the following month. The letter, seen by BBC, admitted, “it would appear on review you did not take responsibility for the offence of affray or assault.” Yet, for Theo and his family, the damage had been done. “I was quite fearful for my future,” Theo said, reflecting on the stress and anxiety the process caused. His father, now retired, described himself as “disheartened” by the experience. “It’s going to take a lot for Theo to have any sort of trust and confidence back in the police,” Rod said. “And if he doesn’t, he’s going to tell his children, don’t trust the police because of my experiences.”
The case didn’t end there. Just two days before Rod’s retirement, he was served with gross misconduct papers by the force, accused of abusing his role over Theo’s sanction. The timing, he told BBC, felt “malicious.” However, the professional standards department found no case to answer in January, and Rod maintained, “I was just a parent supporting and defending my son.”
The independent review, as reported by MixVale, laid bare the procedural failings: police failed to clarify Theo’s rights, didn’t distinguish between victim and potential offender roles, and didn’t adequately explore the possibility of self-defense. The review highlighted that Theo was “coerced into accepting a sanction as the path of least resistance to avoid court proceedings,” and that the process inflicted severe emotional distress, undermining his trust in the very institutions meant to protect him.
The implications reach far beyond just one family. West Midlands Police issued 8,280 community resolutions in 2024—77% of all out-of-court disposals, a staggering 163% increase since 2019. Nationally, the Ministry of Justice reported 164,000 community resolutions in 2024, also accounting for 77% of such disposals. Yet, as the BBC found, neither West Midlands Police nor other Midlands forces could provide data on complaints or rescinded resolutions related to these orders.
Institutional response to the review’s findings has been swift, at least on paper. The National Police Chiefs’ Council called out-of-court resolutions a “highly effective” way of delivering justice, but Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dr. Alison Heydari acknowledged the need for updates: “We regularly review the use of community resolutions and over the next few months will be updating our guidance to reflect several recent and forthcoming significant reports.”
Advocates and experts are now pushing for a thorough overhaul of police training, especially when it comes to interactions with minors and victims of crime. The review calls for mandatory specialized modules on trauma, victim advocacy, and how to avoid re-traumatizing those who come forward. There’s also a push for independent oversight panels to review cases where victims feel unfairly treated, and for restorative justice practices that focus on healing rather than punishment—particularly in school settings.
Theo’s case also highlights the need for better collaboration between schools and police, ensuring that students who report violence are supported, not inadvertently punished. This could include providing access to independent legal counsel or advocacy services from the outset, and launching educational campaigns to inform students and parents of their rights when interacting with law enforcement.
West Midlands Police itself has faced broader scrutiny. In November 2023, it was placed in special measures by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services for, among other things, “failure to carry out effective investigations leading to satisfactory results for victims.” While the force came out of special measures in September 2025, the Theo Rose case serves as a stark reminder of why robust oversight and reform remain essential.
For Theo and his family, the apology and rescinding of the sanction offer little comfort. As Theo put it, “no justice has been served” since his original complaint as a victim of assault remains unresolved. The hope now is that his story will prompt the changes needed to ensure that victims are protected, not punished, when they seek help.
