Frances Whitehouse, the daughter of Sussex Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse, has been convicted three times in the past two years of violent offences.

Now she has told a national newspaper she's being picked on because of who her father is and the problem has been the relationship with her boyfriend Lloyd Smith, which she says has been violent.

If that was not odd enough, her mother Elizabeth, an employment lawyer, says Sussex Police officers don't understand the relationship between Frances and Lloyd.

Many parents would not consider, as Mr and Mrs Whitehouse have done, offering a temporary home to Frances along with the boyfriend who has hit her.

Mother and daughter may find it convenient to shift the blame on the father's police officers.

But what they should be examining is the violent behaviour of Frances Whitehouse, which has been completely unacceptable, no matter who her father is.