Speak to the parents

I had trouble with children from the local high school at my previous house. They used to sit and stand on my garden wall and yell abuse at passers by. My requests for this to cease were ignored with a good deal of bad language and sniggering. My mum said that I should slather the top of the wall with Vaseline. It doesn’t come off clothes in the wash and gets trailed into the house on shoes. They soon moved on.

Theres no hope is there? Little bratts !

Brilliant idea, tictacnana!

We used to have a lot of trouble with kids playing football in our central garage block, and using the entrances (one is right opposite our house) as goals, so the ball was endlessly being kicked into our front garden, frequently right up to the sitting room window. It was very intrusive,
Added to that, the noise from the constant kicking against metal garage walls would drive us mad.

These were not any sort of typical Brit-brat kids with parents to match. We live not far from the German speaking school - they were all German or Austrian and at the time several of the houses were rented to such families - the parents were all professionals of some sort.

We have a huge park close by, so given that the boys were of an age to go unaccompanied, they could easily have gone there, but preferred to play in the garage block.

Having a word with any of the parents achieved nothing. They honestly did not give a monkey’s.

Only when the boys started bringing kids who didn’t even live here, in order to make up bigger teams - did it (mostly) stop, and then only after a strongly worded complaint to the head of their school.
Thank goodness we haven’t had that problem for some years now - more of the houses are owner-occupied.

I agree, it’s poor parenting from the off,no hope really as it goes on and on….. however, I was in Macdonalds yesterday and trying to order on touchscreen, tried twice but queue behind was getting longer, and I felt an old fool so said “ oh blow it I won’t bother” went to walk away, but a bunch of 15/16 year olds behind me said “no comeback I’ll help” and did it in 20 seconds! They could’ve let me walk away,get served quicker etc, but they were lovely and thoughtful, made my day. When they collected their food they sat down, and yes, were a bit rowdy, laughing and squealing , had a pretend wrestle. People would have been tut- tutting, but I knew they were good young people burning energy, showing off, being carefree.(but I still don’t want them playing football in my garden!!)

Thankfully, our terrorising, vile little oiks were removed from our area a few years ago as part of a regeneration project, unfortunately not as a result of the hundreds of instances of criminal damage, killing of pets, physical threats, disgusting language, etc.

We were subjected to all of the above for about 4 years by a group of 6 'tweens'. We reported to the police, council, social services, kept records, photos, even video evidence but nothing was ever done.

There's absolutely no excuse for anyone of any age to behave like this. I was raised knowing the difference between right and wrong, I knew not to backchat my elders -- and betters-- and raised my own children to be the same.

It's political correctness gone crazy, you get accused of 'intimidating children' if you say anything to them, you can't defend yourself if a child attempts to attack you just in case you touch their jacket because you'llbe accused of assault.

I don't hold with the corporal punishment we were subjected to back in the 70/80s but surely there has to be something in between these two extremes, as it is the kids know they have the upper hand and can do exactly as they please and can get away with it, with no chance of repercussions from parents, authorities, etc.

I was doing some vol work in a charity shop which sells lots of toys. A mum came in with 2 girls about 5 and 6 and a wobbly toddler. The girls ran round the shop inc going backwards. We spoke to them nicely about not running for safety reasons. Toddler was lurching around on his own. Mother was looking at other things. I asked them again a bit more firmly to be more careful and Mum who hadn't spoken to them at all, dragged them all out. Outside she berated them that she couldn't take them anywhere etc and yet not once had she tried to calm them down inside. I really feel that some parents are to frightened to say no to their children. They are building a rod for their own backs.

I live in an estate 120 houses, started 13years ago, finished 3 years later. There were very few children initially. The original ones have grown, some nearly in 20s now. But, oh my, the vandalism to planted areas,(we all have to pay maintenace charge) the footballs against fences and climbing garden fences to retrieve balls has driven one resident to need treatment for depression and anxiety. The couple cannot sit in garden, even open windows due to level of noise from ball being thumped and shouting. There are conditions s on all properties that no ball games are allowed on the grassed areas but parents who don't live next to the grassed area just ignore pleas. A car parking area is adjacent and of course footballs hit vehivles No way can anyone say anything to any of the children. Adults are at the doors within minutes. Only two nights ago one resident was complaining on local FB page that kids were throwing stones at her cat and dog in her gardens and also at her kitchen window. This is a fairly affluent, no visible deprivation, 3 police officers reside. Kids on electric scooters racing about, no one says a thing. We border a lovely woodland park, two public parks with football grounds etc but parents don't allow kids to use them. Should I have any issues it will be the police I contact. If the authorities don't know what's going on they can do anything about it.

Nothing you can do about noisy kids, difficult parents, dogs, footballs etc except move house. I did and luckily haven't had the problems since.

My estate was a bit like that a few years ago. I think when the dominant demographic is young families people who don't fit into that category can be ignored or almost bullied into accepting that behaviour. "Why did you choose to live on an estate...." kind of thing, by some of the more self centred parents.

Thankfully a lot of the children have grown up and there is a better mix of ages and less self entitled behaviour and attitudes.

When my DC were young, there was a grumpy neighbour whose garden was next to the grass area at the end of the close. If they or one of their friends kicked a football over his fence he would stab it with a knife before throwing it back.
They soon knew to keep away from his property.
I suppose if parents came round to say that you should have spoken to them about their child's behaviour you could then find out their address for any future complaints.

True. But some of them, the very 1st time their child is told off by an annoyed neighbour start harrumphing that the neighbour should have spoken to them. But the same type of parent then takes umbrage if someone asks their child where they live, or becomes highly indignant when approached and does the "my child would never do something like that" thing.

I work in a primary school and a lot (not all) of the kids are absolutely obnoxious little s***s! This is right from nursery/reception and is getting worse every year. The parents of these so called 'little darlings' are no better, they are rude, arrogant, entitled and bad mannered. They threaten staff and neighbours of the school, park across neighbours drives, take up spaces on the staff carpark and sit outside hours before school is open with their engines running! I have had children as young as 8 squaring up to me, had chairs thrown at me and been punched by pupils! And no we are not a special needs school, this is a 'normal' 'OUTSTANDING' school! I recently signed up to a local website that you can post onto any antisocial issues, local news etc I think this is a countrywide site called Nextdoor.co.uk. I would also be phoning the police/neighbourhood officer, contacting the council and also my local MP, not just once or twice but bombarding them continually. Good luck, I hope this helps. Unfortunately the days of children having any sort of respect have gone! Its a very sad state of affairs and I can't see that it is ever going to get any better!

Thankfully we haven't had those kind of problems where we live, the few kids that do live on here seem to be quite well behaved & polite. I have seen antisocial behaviour up in the town on odd occasions though & I witnessed a boy aged about 11 on his way home from school shouting obscenities at an elderly lady walking her dog (I won’t repeat what he said on here) If you ring the school they can’t really do anything either, they’re up against it trying to manage behaviour, I don’t know what the solution is. I remember as a young child sticking my tongue out very rudely at a neighbour that my mum wasn't overly fond of, she marched me home by the ear to my mum where I got a sharp slap around the back of my legs and was sent to bed crying. I was rather hoping my mum would stick up for me but she didn’t so I learnt a lesson there. None of that would be allowed now of course.

I once had a group of teenagers who had taken to sitting on my front wall and being noisy, so I went out with my greenfly spray, sprayed a few roses and told them quite pleasantly to be careful not to breath it in. They never came back!

Social services - children in danger because of parental neglect

Years ago I had a problem with kids sitting on my wall I decided to take action bought a pack of cooking lard and smeared it all over the wall they never sat on it again

I’d do exactly that, I would knock at their parents door and ask them to remove their unruly child from my garden/ front of my house or I will inform the police and social services. If they get aggressive, I would ring the police while they stood and watched.

In my small town we have problems with teens and older youth riding motor bikes at speed along narrow streets... also vandalism in the local park - where flower beds, park furniture and play areas have been smashed up.
I once made a complaint on Facebook - live - in our local FB group, about the noise from the 'bikes, but mostly about the danger to other road users and pedestrians.
My comment attracted quite a few replies - most were derogatory, telling me I was a 'spoil sport' and to 'get over myself'. Other said that there was nothing for the young people to do and nowhere for them to go, so what did I expect - it was only a bit of harmless fun.
With that kind of mentality - you're stuffed. I don't mind kids being rowdy or 'larking around', it's what they do... but when they are being deliberately obnoxious or doing something dangerous...
When it happened again, I called the Police (some of the kids were riding on pavements). They did come, and have occasionally patrolled the estate where these kids live.
I didn't want to bother the Police - but why should we be forced to put up with this kind of yobbish behaviour by a minority, encouraged by stupid adults?
Some of these youths are repeat offenders and it is known that their parents don't give a damn where they are or what they are doing when they are out of the house... I think they just want a quiet life for themselves and everyone else can go hang.
TBH I don't think it's ever been any different, I remember as a kid in the late 40s early 50s being chastised by my grandmother for hanging around with a gang of youngsters who were always making a nuisance of themselves. The only difference is that, in those days, the Police were visible on the streets and would visit the parents of troublesome kids, which did have an effect.
I haven't seen an officer 'on the beat' in my town for nearly 15 years, apart from one occasion.

I’m smiling ruefully at the expectation that police and social services have the resources to deal with the sorts of problems outlined on this thread. They really don’t.

I know how disturbing such behaviour is and I know that it can be distressing and cause anxiety, and sometimes downright fear, but the best option is to contact your local PCSOs, if you live in a place lucky enough to still have them. If not then perhaps one or two creative responses are called for.

One local shopkeeper has installed CCTV both inside and outside her shop. When there are episodes of antisocial behaviour, or theft occurs, she always goes on local social media and gives a limited description of the child/ren, time and date of the incident, and invites the culprits and/or their parents to call in to apologise and make reparation - otherwise she says she will contact the police or school with the evidence.

In spite of some people thinking this approach is too soft, it has been a really successful tactic and I don’t think she has yet had to go as far as involving the police. Several children have voluntarily owned up to poor behaviour and others have had apologetic parents turn up. And, more to the point, the incidences of such behaviour have dropped dramatically.

Dickens

In my small town we have problems with teens and older youth riding motor bikes at speed along narrow streets... also vandalism in the local park - where flower beds, park furniture and play areas have been smashed up.
I once made a complaint on Facebook - live - in our local FB group, about the noise from the 'bikes, but mostly about the danger to other road users and pedestrians.
My comment attracted quite a few replies - most were derogatory, telling me I was a 'spoil sport' and to 'get over myself'. Other said that there was nothing for the young people to do and nowhere for them to go, so what did I expect - it was only a bit of harmless fun.
With that kind of mentality - you're stuffed. I don't mind kids being rowdy or 'larking around', it's what they do... but when they are being deliberately obnoxious or doing something dangerous...
When it happened again, I called the Police (some of the kids were riding on pavements). They did come, and have occasionally patrolled the estate where these kids live.
I didn't want to bother the Police - but why should we be forced to put up with this kind of yobbish behaviour by a minority, encouraged by stupid adults?
Some of these youths are repeat offenders and it is known that their parents don't give a damn where they are or what they are doing when they are out of the house... I think they just want a quiet life for themselves and everyone else can go hang.
TBH I don't think it's ever been any different, I remember as a kid in the late 40s early 50s being chastised by my grandmother for hanging around with a gang of youngsters who were always making a nuisance of themselves. The only difference is that, in those days, the Police were visible on the streets and would visit the parents of troublesome kids, which did have an effect.
I haven't seen an officer 'on the beat' in my town for nearly 15 years, apart from one occasion.

Yes a lot of those neighbourhood forums and Facebook pages just give irresponsible parents and stupid adults an opportunity to belittle and sneer at anyone objecting to annoying or anti social behaviour from local children.

granyactivist
Your post @15. 20.
I couldn’t agree more. These posters are obviously totally unaware of the savage financial cuts both these institutions have had to deal with.
La la land.

I am sick of them running all over my garden and yelling outside until its pitch black outside and they are out there with phone torches, when they eat or do homework goodness only knows, a neighbour said something and got a mouthful from one of the fathers.
I have had my car windscreen smashed and dents to my car.
No point telling PCSO, don't do a thing neither does the HA, they are just allowed to make everyone's life a misery and you can't say or do to much because still have to live here.
Have a ring doorbell and could see on of the boys urinating in one of the bushes in my garden.

NemosMum

If you can afford it (about £80), and you have WiFi, get a RING doorbell camera, or similar. It is activated by motion and will record anything in your immediate vicinity. You will have video and audio recordings to show police/parents etc. The recording is available on your device (smart phone/tablet/laptop) for 30 days, or you can store it permanently. Alternatively, use your smart phone to video. I realise this is no good to anyone who doesn't have the technology, but it is a great help if you have.

You have to be careful with video doorbells as if they record outwit your property you can be fined. In our town FB group they have been useful for recording thefts etc but I read very recently about someone being fined as it recorded a neighbours path/door.

inishowen

Reminds me of the time my daughter and I were at the theatre. A school group were very badly behaved, climbing over the seats, and shouting to each other. My daughter asked in a friendly way what school they were from. They told her. The next day she rang the school and told the head teacher how they'd behaved. He was horrified and said he would deal with them. They were pretty stupid to tell us the name of their school.

What makes you think they gave the name of their own school? If they recognised a rival local school there, a 50-50 chance they were truthful?

I worked as a teacher for almost 30 years and, yes, I've met some horrendous kids - they are almost always egged on by even more horrendous parents.
Several years ago, I estimated that the number of students I'd taught was well over 10,000.
I can honestly say that within this, there have only been a very small number of out-and-out wrong doers.
The vast amount are pleasant, kind kids, seeking to do the right thing for themselves and others.