Would you call 101

That life can be complicated.

We lived in a lane where the children, despite all having large gardens, preferred to play in the lane
Most of the residents were elderly, and seemed happy to have them around, one lady would get them weeding her garden
But one lady complained endlessly, they were sat on her wall, their bikes had gone onto her driveway, they were noisy, she never resorted to threatening them, but one miserable old woman can sour the whole atmosphere.

Hmmmm Child v adult?

The adult should have known better, approached said child’s parents and explained calmly.

Children need places to play and let off steam.

Damage to cars and going onto other peoples driveways isn’t acceptable, however I would be most unhappy if someone swore and threatened my own child.

My children were not allowed to play in the street, we lived on a very busy road, had a small back garden and we took our children at least twice a week to our local parks, where they ran off their energy, shouted, laughed, played.

To add, they were told to keep well away from her, but she was ready to pounce if so much as a dolls pram or bike went a few inches over her property.
I wouldn’t have reported her no matter how aggressive she got, after all, I guess she was justified in not wanting them around, I just think she must have been a very miserable person.

Awful threat by the man, whatever the provocation. It sounds like he wants respect but shows none, very poor role model. Children have to have some freedom. He needs to get over himself.
Don’t the police have enough to do without dealing with nonsense. The parents should speak calmly with this man and suggest their children keep away from him

Perhaps this person was never allowed to play outside .and is taking it out on the children. How very sad

Yes, I would report him. Threatening to break a child’s legs is not acceptable! I would also have strong words with the child to make sure that they respect other peoples property in future.

I think playing in the street is one thing but going onto other peoples driveways is another.

Do not play on other people's driveways, sit on (or walk on) their walls.

If the children are playing with other children in the street they will have several driveways and walls etc between them. Keep off the ones where the children of that house are not part of the playing.

The man however was also wrong.
What the heck makes someone so very rude and hostile?
I suppose we only know one side here.
Is he looking after a dying mother and very on edge... has he had windows broken or his car damaged in the past... has he lost his job and fears he may become homeless...?
He could be a horrible person too of course!

My own children played with local friends in the street even though we had gardens and a recreation ground in the village! Grass is harder for bikes and prams than the tarmac.

There were two houses we told them very strongly that they must be very sure not to go on their drives.
One was a next door neighbour who thought our children "spied" on them when they were in their back garden and another was an elderly lady who found the noise on the driveway too much.

As a girl it was much the same for me though. We played with friends on each other's drives, on the road and in our gardens.

This is a story of children who have never had things explained about where to play and why, and adults who don't look out for each other (two very rude adults it seems to me)!

I have phoned 101, although not for children playing, but it rang out and no one answered so it didn't inspire confidence.

Although I hate to admit it, I have a bit of sympathy with the man. I would never speak to a child like that as it is very wrong but I do get fed up the people who live in a house in the road from my flat..

I live off a cul de sac and there is a turning at the top of the road that leads to the car park in front of my block of flats. Often when I want to drive out of the car park into the road there are two very small children riding around in the middle of the road and neither of them seems to see the need to get out of my way. I have to get out of my car and ask them to move onto the pavement which I always do politely and quietly as they are both so tiny. One time their very irate dad stormed out of their house and yelled "Please don't talk to my children!" I replied that I needed to drive down the road and I was simply asking them to move. I also added that I didn't think the middle of the road was a good place for them to ride their bikes. He told me that children have a right to play in the street and called me a miserable old witch then they all went inside.

I should add that all the houses have reasonable sized gardens and there is a huge park with plenty of space for bike riding about two minutes away.

This was only yesterday. Perhaps I should expect a visit from the fuzz.

Threatening to break the child's legs is completely unacceptable. But children do need to learn to respect other people's property, driveway etc. It's up to the parents to firmly teach their children this.

I think it was horrendous that any adult would say such a thing to a child.
The mother had already spoken to the man.
However I don't agree with calling 101.
I presume he will get a visit from the police.

Children need to learn right from wrong, she shouldn't be playing by other people's cars/property.

I left childcare in 2018 mainly because of parents like this.

The man sounds horrendous but the mother sounds a bit entitled too.

When we first moved in some of the local boys used our driveway to turn in when cycling up and down the road. It never bothered us until the day one of them fell off his bike and the bike put a huge scratch down the wing of my car. The boy did a runner but I knew who he was so went to have a chat with his mum. She asked him if he did it, he said no (to my face, when I had picked him up after he fell), she refused to pay and I was left with a £300 bill to sort out the paintwork.

Iam64

Awful threat by the man, whatever the provocation. It sounds like he wants respect but shows none, very poor role model. Children have to have some freedom. He needs to get over himself.
Don’t the police have enough to do without dealing with nonsense. The parents should speak calmly with this man and suggest their children keep away from him

Absolutely. Only call the police if a repeated pattern and other neighbours feel so too. The child needs to know he had grossly overreacted, v bad thing to say, tho maybe the child might consider what they were doing was OTT and parent(s) first talk to the man.

That call might have taken time away from someone being really abused.

Anyone ever watch "Judge Judy?" this sort of stuff is up all the time. She's an enjoyable watch, and its a lesson in how to sensibly know when to act and how to, how to apportion responsibility, including children ..tho US system different in some ways.

Playing in the street is OK. , trespassing on someones drive is not ok!
Children should be taught to repect other proples property.

Its not OK but hardly a police matter.

Horrible man!
My DD as a child was frightened to walk past a particular neighbour who swore and cursed.
I rang the letting agent who said the neighbour would receive a warning.
The bad behaviour stopped but others have suggested I should have called social services.
101 is there to report a crime. They'll soon tell you if they can't help.

I would deal with the neighbour myself because I would not let a neighbour intimidate me and most certainly not a child.

Our road was until recently occupied by older people who have stayed put rather than move when their grown children have left. Our children’s school is five minute walk away. As an empty nester hearing the children at playtime or sports day gave me comfort. When lockdown began the quiet was so depressing and it was for our neighbours too.

Three families moved in the road after lockdown all with small children. They play football they have picnics on their front lawns and bring life back to our road. They are very polite and have been brought up to respect other people’s property etc.

I tend to give and take with neighbours and treat them as they treat me. Some people are set in their ways nothing will change them it’s not a matter for police. Actually we don’t have the assurance of police here our police station closed nearly twenty years ago. You have to choose diplomacy in such matters I have had to in the past it’s the only way.

Don’t forget, it does say shared driveways

Your neighbourhood sounds very civilised Redhead.

I was reminiscing about the time when we lived in a very small housing estate where the children played safely and adults were pleasant to eachother.

Where I live now is adjacent to a block of flats which are rented usually short term so there's a turnover of tenants and it's hardly worth trying to get to know them. There are a few children but I never see them play outside. I say hello if I meet anyone at their cars or bins, but we don't chat or gossip in a neighbourly way.
There are some cats and dogs who use my garden for recreation!

presumably he will get a visit from the police
If they lived in La La land they probably would, but in the real world probably not.

Chidren should learn to respect other people's boundaries. Adults should not threaten children, they should also have been taught this when they were children.

Not doing this leads to conflict between neighbours. Neighbours form factions. Factions form militia. Militia fight wars. This is how wars start.

Don't phone the police. Calm the situation down by making sure the child respects the boundaries and ask the neighbour to be careful of his language in future.

Ziggy62
He was in the wrong if he said what the child (age?) said he did.
Mother was in the wrong for not teaching her child respect for others’ property.
An apology works wonders, e.g.
“I’m sorry my child was on your property. I’ll remind him/her about respecting other peoples property.
Could you please not swear at or threaten my child.
The response might be pleasant, or it might not. I recall the reaction of one man when I apologised in similar circumstances involving a lot of use of f but at least I had done my best.