Nuisance Children

LizD_2

Not moneysaving, but I don't where else to ask for advice.

There are a group of about half a dozen children (range from early-teens to I guess about 7 or 8) who have started hanging around our road (it's a no-through road).They haven't caused any damage to cars or houses yet, but are a constant nuisance - fighting, breaking branches off the trees at the end of the road, sitting on our opposite neighbour's wall and driveway, standing in the road (DH nearly ran one of them over tonight) and generally being a pain in the a***. I personally feel very indimidated by them - and I'm not a little old lady, I'm 28.

There's no point calling the Police as they won't come out to a bunch of kids and talking to the parents is not an option. Can anyone suggest how we could deal with the situation? I think I know where some of them live (in a road that backs on to ours) and I believe their parents (guardians, whatevers) may be Council or HA tenants - would this be the first port of call?

MissMotivation

So, basically they're just being children? I don't see what is intimidating about sitting on a wall and breaking branches it's not as if they are smashing up cars, getting pi****d and doing drugs!

If they live in the area then where else are they supposed to go? If you are not prepared to speak to their parents they I suspect there is not much else that you can do.

Why don't you go out and speak to them, you must remember what it's like to be a kid?

Nicki

I thought this was exactly the kind of thing that Community Police Officers are supposed to deal with (ie not the real police but the Blunkett's Bobbies). We live in London, and they came round to DS's school to give a presentation to parents about the kinds of things they deal with, and dispersing rowdy kids was the first or second thing they mentioned.

Personally I don't agree with MissMotivation that fighting and breaking branches off trees is acceptable. It is the beginnings of anti-social behaviour and will probably escalate as they get more bored. So I'd want them moved on elsewhere sooner rather than later.

Gavin83

I agree with the above poster, as long as they're not causing damage or being rude or aggressive, I don't see what the problem is. Children will play fight and break branches off trees, it's what they do. You just don't like the idea of a group of children playing in your road, but your road is as good as any other. They need somewhere to play. Besides, you don't really have a right to stop them being in your street either.

I'd say just leave them be unless they start causing trouble.

McKneff

Nicki's post is spot on.
Dont talk to the parents or the kids, your likely to get a mouthfull of abuse or a brick through your window.
The community police is the best way to go,

WASHER

Gavin83 wrote: »

I agree with the above poster, as long as they're not causing damage or being rude or aggressive, I don't see what the problem is. Children will play fight and break branches off trees, it's what they do. You just don't like the idea of a group of children playing in your road, but your road is as good as any other. They need somewhere to play. Besides, you don't really have a right to stop them being in your street either.

I'd say just leave them be unless they start causing trouble.

As a mother of two children, I totally agree with this post, I am sick and tired of people not letting children play nowadays, is it any wonder why there is so much obesity, children cannot play these days without some do gooder wanting to move them on.

Unless they are rude or causing actual damage, then please let them play.

My two children are unable to play on my private drive cause my neighbour doesn't like the noise they make, they constantly shout at my children to move on, I have very strict rules about screaming etc, I believe my children are doing no wrong in playing on my land which according to the land registry office I own, the neighbour called the police but they wouldn't come out as the police said they are playing, as long as they are not causing damage or behaving unreasonably, they are acting within the law.

Nicki

WASHER wrote: »

Unless they are rude or causing actual damage, then please let them play.

Don't you consider breaking the branches off trees to be damage though? If OP had said they were in her street playing football or riding their bikes around, or something similar, then I wouldn't have had a lot of sympathy for her. Once they start vandalising the environment though, in my experience the situation only gets worse not better. Your perspective on this may depend on where you live though. I live in an inner city area so damage to trees would have a large impact on the environment, whereas perhaps it would bother those living in a more rural environment less.

bestpud

Have you tried talking to them? Jeez, if they are only 7 or 8, I'd hope you could resolve this with a friendly chat!

Do you really feel intimidated by a bunch of small children? Are you sure you aren't taking media hype to heart?

But, if you can't just talk to them, then I agree, the CSO for your area should be your first port of call.

We have lots around here, my dd(7) being one of them, and they do get a bit loud at times, but a quick word soon quietens them.

I'd tell them off for breaking trees but the rest just sounds like children being children...

BTW, if they are in social housing and being a nuisance, then, yes, you can call their landlord, but don't you think that's a bit OTT at this stage? They'd ask you to keep a diary of any anti-social behavious before they'd act anyway, I'm pretty sure.

the_other_mce

It's quite likely that one of them lives in your street and that's why they are hanging around - and if they are quite young teenagers they probably feel a bit safer (but still grown-up and independent :rolleyes:) out of the way of trouble in a quiet cul-de-sac.
Kids don't realise that people may feel threatened by their presence - there isn't a lot to do at pre-teen/early teen ages - too old for games and too young to actually go anywhere iinteresting off of their estate. The best thing to do is to be friendly - say hello and smile - they'll appreciate you treating them like people!
Also it's nearly the end of the summer - in a few weeks it will be cold and dark early, they will all be back at school and you probably won't see most of them again until next summer(or maybe October half-term)!

jackomdj

I do think they are just being children. Do you talk to them when they are behaving?

We live in a good area but we sometimes have a group of children play outside our house, they live down our road & in the next road, we are at the top before a turning so a good place to congregate. We always chat with them & have a laugh & a joke. However if they are misbehaving I will go out & tell them not to do something, some of the things they have done are break the tree branches, pick the berries from the tree, a few minor arguments & poking about with a dead mouse(!).

I think because we are always friendly they accept our reprimands for what they are meant to be. I would hope when our girls are old enough to play out in the street our neighbours will let them know if something they are doing is not acceptable.

HTH
Nicky

LizD_2

Thanks for your replies.

I can accept that some of you will say 'kids will be kids' etc, fine, I don't have a problem if they're just kicking a football, riding bikes etc. The fact is they are damaging the few trees in the road and throwing some hefty branches around - (we aren't inner city, but it's a densely populated area with not a lot of green things nearby) and engaging in some pretty nasty fighting.
They do have gardens and a nearby park to play in - but they seem to prefer to hang around in the roads.
I'm afraid I don't feel comfortable talking to them - the younger kids would be fine, but the early/mid teens are not the sort of people I would feel comfortable talking to - they are pretty intimidating.

I will definitely talk to the local CSO and see if they can help - maybe all they need is a bit of guidance.