What’s the point? A tale of the youth of today…

You are not committing a crime if you take pictures of people in a public place, unless the photos are inappropriate or indecent and inappropriately used or shared for an illegal purpose.
If a young person is committing an act of delinquency or other inappropriate behaviour, a video or picture could be taken to the police or to the authorities as proof. I'm not saying the case we are discussing warrants police involvement, but surely unacceptable behaviour such as that of the group of youths causing trouble and damage, can be photographed or put on a video. I've googled this:
"It is not illegal for people to take photos of your children in public places without your permission. There is no right to privacy that forbids people from taking a person's photograph whilst on public property."

It is definitely worth letting the local police know that anti-social behaviour is going on. They do have to prioritise, and if it is low-key may not be able to do much.
But by letting them know, they are able to build up a picture of 'hot spots' and can prioritise where PCSOs can patrol.
Our PCSOs do 'surgeries', aiming to get to most neighbourhoods monthly, but can be contacted by phone or email.

This is also an example of how apparently minor cut-backs affect communities. I worked for some years in a very difficult area, and we had 'roving youth workers' who worked in a team with PCSOs and other community workers. They were very good at defusing situations. A favourite tactic was to open up a local games area, put the floodlights on, and some basketballs out.

I'm also interested that you describe an apparently affluent community with aspirant parents. I wonder if local youth feel alienated by the 'incomers' (this has happened to a town near me recently) or if these are the 'incomers' trying to find their place among local kids?

I hope that coming on here has helped - what you describe is not nice at all - and that you find some of the advice helpful

Similar situation locally, the parents are aware but not interested in dealing with their children. Probably worse now weather is better.

I too live in a similar market town with two sought after schools. Just recently there has been a spate of antisocial behaviour by children in one particular sports ground and the cemetery. The police, social workers and councillors are working together to remedy this but it is a losing battle. Some as young as 12 are roaming the streets at 4 in the morning. I wonder where the parents are.

You really are not too old
Perhaps walk you dogs somewhere quieter I don’t have my own now but take my daughters or sons dog over local fields much more peaceful
You may find the odd kid that is rude but most are absolutely fine

Just to add you could report them anonymously to the Police if you know what school they go to. Maybe they can visit the school and speak to the students, or organise a park patrol at the times when this will likely happen. There is also a site called nextdoor where you can speak online to neighbours about issues and this is connected to the local Police. Your real name appears on nextdoor but not your address or any other details.
You could also take part in an organised litter pick locally. Ask about this on nextdoor website.

My own little market town is also ‘not what it was’ in some ways. Some newer residents have been shipped in from larger cities, been housed in a newly built estate, but is a bit of a ‘no go’ area now.

Having said that, we still have a good community on the whole. Voluntary groups litter pick round the town, we had lots of celebrations for the Jubilee, volunteers provide lovely troughs of flowers around the town….

There are many worse places to live, and the nice people far outweigh the not so nice.

You can't take photos of them, (child abuse) and you would be called a dirty pervert, as was a governor of our local Primary school when he tried to photograph teenagers roaring round the playground on motor scooters, for identification.

A group of teenagers were attempting to force and smash the doors of the Library; the man opposite came out of his garage and told them to clear off. Ten minutes later a policeman arrived to give him a warning about his threatening behaviour; he was holding the tool he was working with when he shouted at them.
It is dreadful that you cannot reprimand bad behaviour, but it simply is not safe any more.

How very sad, and I'm sure you feel dispirited by all this. Firstly, I would say never complain to anyone in public because you have no idea how they will react (as you have discovered). I've read too many stories about people being beaten up when they tell youngsters off or even when they try to protect their own property. Just button your lip and walk quietly by. It's not worth the hassle or potential injury just to have a moan, and nothing you say will make any difference anyway. There's always the possibility they will find a way to target you another time, and some young people can be very nasty when there's an 'old fogey' who whinges at them. If they see your car for instance, you might get scratches or flat tyres.

I'm afraid this is a different world we live in now and as you get older you do have to disengage from people like this. In the past we were taught to respect our elders but I noticed a distinct change in attitudes of youngsters in the 1990s. They started to realise they had power over adults if they accused them of something, or threatened to accuse them. It's horrible but true. All you can do is encourage your own family to be decent people and keep away from these random strangers.

Sorry… “world health crisis” ?