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

By the way I do realise that some parents, despite their best efforts, have wayward teens that break their hearts.

But there are also those who just can't be bothered, or are more interested in being 'cool' parents than decent, responsible ones.

I know. The police can't seem to do much either. Some parents are a disgrace.

Vintagejazz

Nope, a green in the middle of a housing estate. And these kids were there at midnight and afterwards, and had taken more than alcohol. Their parents had a lot to answer for.

... kids out at midnight taking drugs. And alcohol, presumably. I think it's a shocking state of affairs... criminal irresponsibility.

And there's so little the ordinary citizen can do about it.

Dickens

Vintagejazz

I totally agree. I used to live beside a green and we were regularly kept awake at night by drunk and high as kite teenagers gathering there in the small hours of the morning. I did judge the parents. They should have known where their children were at that time, and noticed the state they were in when they eventually got home.

... it wasn't Twickenham Green by any chance was it? The pub my son frequented was close by - though he was never out that late. He had an 11pm curfew - earlier during term time / exam time.

We never noticed the smell of alcohol - I think he was very conservative in his consumption and the atmosphere in the pub was what attracted him.

But, yes - I also blame the parents. How can you not? Who is responsible for the behaviour of below-age teenagers if not the parents? Apart from anything else - why aren't they worried when their youngsters are out late at night?

I did accidentally bump into him one evening (prior to the time when we decided to follow him) when me and my ex decided to pop into McDonald's for a takeaway coffee. He was sitting at a table with 4 of his mates, each clutching a straw and sharing a large milk shake. They were all skint and clubbed together to buy it and were sitting solemnly slurping when we came across them. I don't know whether that was before or after he'd been to the pub - or his 'club', as he called it . We bought them all some 'fries', dumped them on the table and scooted...

Nope, a green in the middle of a housing estate. And these kids were there at midnight and afterwards, and had taken more than alcohol. Their parents had a lot to answer for.

My camera only covers my gate and a portion of the road I own the full length of, so I’m well within my rights. Actually the house opposite came to me a few weeks ago asking if my camera had caught their touring caravan being stolen off their drive but it didn’t operate that far.
You regularly get people putting photos of intruders they have caught on their Ring cameras on local Neighbourhood sites. This is probably illegal but very helpful to the police.

Vintagejazz

I totally agree. I used to live beside a green and we were regularly kept awake at night by drunk and high as kite teenagers gathering there in the small hours of the morning. I did judge the parents. They should have known where their children were at that time, and noticed the state they were in when they eventually got home.

... it wasn't Twickenham Green by any chance was it? The pub my son frequented was close by - though he was never out that late. He had an 11pm curfew - earlier during term time / exam time.

We never noticed the smell of alcohol - I think he was very conservative in his consumption and the atmosphere in the pub was what attracted him.

But, yes - I also blame the parents. How can you not? Who is responsible for the behaviour of below-age teenagers if not the parents? Apart from anything else - why aren't they worried when their youngsters are out late at night?

I did accidentally bump into him one evening (prior to the time when we decided to follow him) when me and my ex decided to pop into McDonald's for a takeaway coffee. He was sitting at a table with 4 of his mates, each clutching a straw and sharing a large milk shake. They were all skint and clubbed together to buy it and were sitting solemnly slurping when we came across them. I don't know whether that was before or after he'd been to the pub - or his 'club', as he called it . We bought them all some 'fries', dumped them on the table and scooted...

bobby please be careful your system doesn't break the law if it captures an area outside your property (eg. part of the road/pavement). Even thees new doorbells can fall foul of the law!
This may be helpful:
ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/domestic-cctv-systems-guidance-for-people-using-cctv/

I totally agree Nanna8.
I have the CCTV camera covering the road and gate attached to my phone so when anyone comes to the gate it emails me with a photo. It went off at 10.35pm the other night.
The same kids again.
What kind of parent lets their young child roam round at that time of night. They are the ones that scream the loudest when one goes missing.
I have two AC and 3 DGC and non would have been allowed out at that time and definitely would not have backchatted adults.
It’s down to parents who do t give a damn.

Recently a very young girl (11) was assaulted in an alleyway here. She was out at 11.30 at night, on her own. Her assailants were all around 12,13,14. What on earth are the parents doing letting kids that age wander around the streets late at night ? Quite frankly I think they are not suitable to be parents at all.

The gate is wide enough for a car/van so I can’t bolt it for delivery and post purposes. My house is about 300yards from the gate. If couriers have to walk up they’d just leave parcels down there.

Dickens

^It’s everywhere. Starts with society generally; useless parenting then, on to the kids who become the 25yr old driving too close and blaming/abusing others!^

When my son was a young teen, I got word that he was in town making a bit of a nuisance of himself with a similarly aged 'gang'.

My late ex and I got in the car after he'd gone out the next couple of evenings and surreptitiously followed him to find out what was going on. It was nothing horrendous, but he was being a bit of a PITA (I won't go into details of how we followed him around, it was very cloak-and-dagger, and not a very nice thing to have to do).

We had a 'conversation' and rules were laid down, and that was more or less the end of the problem.

I didn't enjoy spying on him, and it was all quite stressful for both him and us. We didn't get anywhere initially by just talking to him and questioning him... so what were we supposed to do as parents knowing that our son was getting up to mischief?

Being a parent is not an easy job, and as kids gain independence, it can become even more difficult. But that's the point - being a parent is a job, and a serious one - you cannot just waive 'bye' to your young adults as they waltz out the door in the evening and assume they're sitting on a wall somewhere chatting to their mates, or riding their bikes around. My son - very tall and mature-looking for his age, was actually frequenting a pub in town, one which had a bit of a reputation! I'd never have known if I hadn't followed him. He was only 14!

Parents need to know what their kids are doing in the evenings when they're out, and they need to engage with them long before they reach that age, too. I think the parents of these vandals have a lot to answer for.

I totally agree. I used to live beside a green and we were regularly kept awake at night by drunk and high as kite teenagers gathering there in the small hours of the morning.
I did judge the parents. They should have known where their children were at that time, and noticed the state they were in when they eventually got home.

Bobbydog24 that sounds dreadful. Gits. I wish I could suggest some thing but don’t know what. A bolt on the gate so they cannot get in? I feel for you. Keep your chin up ❤️

That’s awful bobbydog24, you feel very vulnerable when you live alone. Could you possible get a large dog or borrow one off a friend. Mind you if it bit one of the little beggars you’d just end up being sued. You can’t even defend your own property nowadays.

We had a few incidents in my small town, the few youths involved were caught on cctv, cameras on some houses. They were quickly identified and the parents became involved, they were horrified at the bad behaviour and dealt appropriately with their children.

The police were also told, each and every time. The poor behaviour has been nipped in the bud. The young boys were around 13.

This really is one of the big advantages of living in a small place. People know each other. The great majority are caring and helpful, there ought to be facilities for them, such as the old fashioned youth club. Not all want to join scouts and the various clubs. The rugby club though is a great model for them, many older male role models

I live in a house my husband built on a medium sized plot of land. It has a road leading from the main road which is on my property to a gate that leads up to my house. I am 75 and live alone now after my husband passed away in 2019.
Local children, some as young as 9 constantly open the gate and ride in on their bikes. If I challenge them I get abuse and told I can’t do anything. I’ve had CCTV fitted and notices up informing them they are being filmed. Now they come in and wave at the camera.
They are little brats who are frightened of no one, with parents who haven’t a clue or care where they are.
They get pleasure out of annoying people, knowing nothing can be done.
Anyone know were there is a lion going cheap.

Magrithea, when the trees were torched, the school were approached. Nothing happened, I don’t think.

If it's obvious that they're pupils from one of the schools then contact the school about their behaviour

Shinamae

AuntieEleanorsCat

He SPENT the evening wondering…

Very well said Dickens and well done for your surveillance work ????????

Oops don’t know how I managed to quote that, sorry ..

AuntieEleanorsCat

He SPENT the evening wondering…

Very well said Dickens and well done for your surveillance work ????????

It’s everywhere. Starts with society generally; useless parenting then, on to the kids who become the 25yr old driving too close and blaming/abusing others!

When my son was a young teen, I got word that he was in town making a bit of a nuisance of himself with a similarly aged 'gang'.

My late ex and I got in the car after he'd gone out the next couple of evenings and surreptitiously followed him to find out what was going on. It was nothing horrendous, but he was being a bit of a PITA (I won't go into details of how we followed him around, it was very cloak-and-dagger, and not a very nice thing to have to do).

We had a 'conversation' and rules were laid down, and that was more or less the end of the problem.

I didn't enjoy spying on him, and it was all quite stressful for both him and us. We didn't get anywhere initially by just talking to him and questioning him... so what were we supposed to do as parents knowing that our son was getting up to mischief?

Being a parent is not an easy job, and as kids gain independence, it can become even more difficult. But that's the point - being a parent is a job, and a serious one - you cannot just waive 'bye' to your young adults as they waltz out the door in the evening and assume they're sitting on a wall somewhere chatting to their mates, or riding their bikes around. My son - very tall and mature-looking for his age, was actually frequenting a pub in town, one which had a bit of a reputation! I'd never have known if I hadn't followed him. He was only 14!

Parents need to know what their kids are doing in the evenings when they're out, and they need to engage with them long before they reach that age, too. I think the parents of these vandals have a lot to answer for.

He SPENT the evening wondering…

Athrawes… I agree. Driving in a 40 a few weeks ago and a car was so close to me that when the mph sign switched to 30, the guy bibbed me, as I braked. When we got to the lights, he pulled alongside me and started shouting that I’d “slammed” my brakes on. I hadn’t, I’d merely gone from 36-ish in a 40 to 28-ish in a 30. Got the f word and wan*er gesture. My son, who’s quite vulnerable was in the passenger seat Solent the evening wondering “will he come back to find us?” ?‍♀️

It’s everywhere. Starts with society generally; useless parenting then, on to the kids who become the 25yr old driving too close and blaming/abusing others!

For those suggesting litter collection groups etc, I did some tree planting at the park. The council funded it and got volunteers in to rewild a huge area, plant trees and hedging. Out of 36 trees, around 7 are left. The rest snapped off as saplings, dragged out and in the case of a few, the tree and wooden support, set fire to. I give up.

I must admit I feel vulnerable when I go into the town. It's the electric scooters that get me - I'm wobbly walking as it is - and the bike riders who all totally ignore the clear, large white signs stating NO CYCLING. There's never a police officer in sight. I also feel uncomfortable when the secondary schools release their students [no longer called pupils] but I have to say they might be noisy but there's been no problem so far. As for cars! I'm a 'normal' driver I drive to the limit of the mph signs and am not a crawler but I'm still overtaken. It's scary

Glorianny It's lovely when local people take care of their area/park, but I just wonder how they stop the antisocial gatherings in the evening and night time? There is no-one around then to keep an eye on the park.

The same applies to graveyards which have 'friends of' groups. I know one in Merseyside which is very well cared for and they even send photos of graves to people who enquire. Another very beautiful village graveyard in North Wales is totally neglected and overgrown. None of the locals have even recorded the graves. It's such a shame. Why the people there have no interest I don't know, but obviously some areas just have the right people.

I know you say you will be moving but I thought this was worth saying. The area I used to live in had a nice little park which was busy but misused by teenagers in the evenings and at night. Council cuts meant all support for the park was lost but a group of "Friends" was created which took over the care and maintenance. Several years on the park is cleaner, safer and busier than ever. I think local people having an interest and input into it, making it their park, has created a sense of ownership and everyone wanting the park to improve. There are beds of flowers planted by different schools with labels. I wonder if your area could do something similar.