A snowball fight in America recently made news around the world when a police officer decided the best course of action would be to pull out his gun. Which everyone agreed was a ludicrously over-the-top reaction.

In the U.K., police officers don’t carry guns, and so things happen a little differently. No overreaction here – just a calm and gentle retreat.

The incident happened in Sussex, where two policemen were sitting in their car minding their own business. But it had snowed heavy, and there were consequently dozens of kids milling around looking for some fun.

They spot the police car and decide to reign down a torrent of snowballs onto it and its occupants.

There’s nothing malicious being done, no harm being caused, and so the officers use their windscreen wipers and drive off casually. How much more civilised is that.