Can noise from kids be anti social behaviour?

jenniewb

I have similar problems with kids in my area. They come in all ages (about 5 to 18) and I take different methods with each problem when it comes up.

If I feel able to (eg I don't think they have knives and are mature enough not to keep a grudge and then go chucking stuff at my home) I will ask them/their parents nicely if they could keep the noise down.

If this does not work, after a second warning, or if I feel threatened or as if I could be threatened, I call up the council or police (whichever appropriate).

Fact is, even if you call authorities, they rarely come out straight away, they prefer to watch from a distance and make a log. Enough complaints and they get ASBOs or evicted (trust me- in some cases, evicted is a nice way out!).

I do think that its OK for kids to play games and have fun, but they do need to learn to cope with other people around them and learn to be considerate- just because they are children, it does not rule them out of acting with others in mind. And if the parents aren't doing a good job for whatever reason, then it unfortunately will end up being down to the authorities.

kevinyork

Thanks to all of you so far for your constructive comments.

I think even if I were to speak with my neighbours it would have little benefit. The nearest one has 4 kids and from the back garden if their windows or doors are open all you can hear if the mother shouting "NO!' loudly and about every minute or so therefore it seems she cant instill any discipline in them in her own home nevermind when playing outside.

Last night it was 10.15 till they all went in. Some of them are about 6 and 7 years old.....isnt this too late to be out? I know its a weekend but 10.15.

Moving is an option if we could sell though I can't imagine potential buyers being too happy about wading through a sea of screaming kids to view our home nor seeing the rusting hulk of what was a Ford Transit van that never shifts from our neighbours drive and creates a constant river of engine oil running down their drive onto the road.

Today looks like it may rain - Oh joy of joys. At least they stay in when it rains.

pandora205

How about trying some friendly remarks to the children to remind them that others are able to hear their noise? Something like 'Hi kids, I can see you're having fun but you have very loud voices and we can hear them inside. Do you think you could keep them down a bit, please?' This would generally work well with young people up to about 12 or 13.

Reverbe

I sympathise. I dont have a problem with kids but a noise one all the same. A chav in the flat downstairs and her loud dreadful r n b music, smoking beneath my window so the fresh air in our flat gets polluted with cig smoke and worse that makes me feel physically ill meaning I have to shut the window when it's hot and also the people she has hanging round the place are loud, use a lot of foul language and make me feel uncomfortable with their talk of drugs and their criminal activity.

Hugs to anyone suffering...

asp746

tbh, i wouldn't have a quiet word with one of the parent cos if nothing changes and you have to take things further then they know exactly who's blown them up.

its a horrible situation cos its so frustrating that the parents can't understand the noise the kids are making.

totally selfish.

mrcol1000

Good luck dealing with this one. The local council environmental health department won't deal with it as the noise is on the street. The police have powers to deal with it but your be very lucky on a slow day to get them to deal with noisy kids playing.

If you ask the kids to move then they will just make your life hard. Your local police/council ASBO team may be able to help but they would need to have you identify the kids involved.

The parents you could have a word with but by the sounds it that would be a waste of time. I think you just need to buy an air conditioning unit and shut the windows and wait till winter.

As normal parents wash their hands of responsiblity of their children and just let them do whatever they want and screw everyone else. When one of them is hit by a car as they are too busy playing in the road to notice traffic its the car driver who is to blame not the parent for letting them play in the road.
Most councils provide indestructible shelters in the middle of waste grounds so kids can do whatever they want make whatever noise they want without causing too much problem to people around.

You could always wait till about 11pm and then drive round the streets with your car stereo on full.

frivolous_fay

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/wdp/news/ahead-Mosquito-noise-devices-Fairfield-High-School-s-vandal-hit-pitches/article-1011222-detail/article.html

izzybusy23

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

Birds, heck yes, don't get me started, they are so loud or am I just getting older..... 5am they start here.....

Its the Magpies I hate.. they don't even chirp, but cackle.. now them damn things are noisy and they start at the first light of dawn...

OP, I hear what you are saying about kids being noisy as during my time at my last rental home I had would see kids bomb past my kitchen window as I was washing up, on their skateboard and use the steps at the end as there half pipe, or whatever you call it! Used to drive me nuts as they were noisy and near our cars. I told them to clear off a few times, which they did, but they came back again, but they were respectful. I wouldn't had thought about slapping an ASBO on them as they were just doing things that kids do. Its very hard these days as groups of kids hanging about in a park often gets misconstrued as 'up to no good' so what are they expected to do? I do feel for you though... I hope you do get it sorted out one way or another as it can gradually build up into a big thing and can affect your health. I am a mum and when my DD is old enough to play 'outside' then she will be hauled in if she causes any problems with neighbours.

Jules22

try talking to the kids. they might not realise they are causing a problem.

most kids are not hooligans and thugs.

treating them with a bit of respect and as human beings goes a long way to solving a problem.
works for me every time.

hpsaucey

We have exactly the same problem in our street. When we moved here 10yrs ago there was maybe 1-2 kids bliss. now there is over 15 of them all under 11.We live next door to a couple with 3 kids 5 dogs/5 ferrets.other side has 3 kids and 2 dogs. What annoys me the most is that the parents of all these kids DO NOTHING at all to stop the kids from shouting/screaming/riding bikes/playing football.In fact most of them are drinking all day and get very abusive if you shift the kids or say anything to them[none of them work but get 24 cans beer most days]. 2 Weeks ago someone reported my neighbours for the dogs fighting and barking, I was going to do it but subsequently someone beat me to it. Nevertheless the one night we go out we returned to find 2 of our tyres slashed on the car. When asked if anyone saw anything of course they didnt. In fact neighbour said"sorry we all in the kitchen having a drink when u came in so no we didnt see anything [lie no 1 as they were all in front room,we saw them]lie no 2. when told my tyres had been punctured was told"I wouldnt dare slash your tyres with a knife I would probably cut myself with it"WHO MENTIONED A KNIFE. and 3 she was going around telling everyone that would listen that I had laid them in until hubby told her I hadnt that someone beat us to it. Council asked us to keep an eye on them but we had to refuse as carnt afford anymore tyres. Have asked to move but feel very aggrieved that we have to when we arent the problem. so we are stuck with it for the forseeeable future unless someone else complains.unfortunately we are all pension age and very wary about saying anything to them