[Madhatter]

There's no evidence other than a bruise.
The police can see that a crime has taken place, Three as you say, but there's no evidence. There's no evidence a crime has been committed so even if they catch the git that did it, there's no crime to answer to. All they need to say is they ran past her, got caught on her handbag and therefore knocked her into the wall. If they'd stolen the handbag and dropped it up the street then that may be different.

Same happened to me and the ex in a club over Birmingham, we decided to have the last dance together and left her jacket over the dance floor banister, each of us watching it as we smooched round, horrible yob waited till my back was turned and thought ex would be too dozy, made a mistake though didn't he cos she was watching and was over like a rat up a drainpipe. He dropped it run towards the door and said oh sorry it caught it as i was passing and it fell off. He tried to steal it but no proof.
I know its wrong, I agree it's wrong but British law is full of technicalities.

Police do look at it differently if its an immigrant because they're frightened immigrant will play the race card.
Unfortunately it's also far more likely to be an immigrant and/or coloured to be doing the crime according to statistics.

I hope your friends are well soon cashman, wounds heal however I know from experience the memories do not. I think crimes of this nature need custodial sentences and therefore I don't agree with custodial sentences for fraud etc, these should be dealt with by paying money back and community service so as to freen up places for criminals who use force and violence, often just for the fun of it or because they don't like the look of someone.