Police Advice - Confused

paulofessex

I was just advised by a police officer in future not to call out to 2 children who were throwing potatoes at a gentleman in a mobility scooter.

Two boys possibly 8-9yrs who should be in school were near my house, a bag of potoates that wasn't taken by the dustmen was their choice of ammo to throw at the bloke going about his own business on his scooter, they were also throwing these at other houses and cars etc. So seeing this l opened the door and shouted 'oi' as you would, they run off. I then called police just to advise them of the youngsters presence and behaviour, just as l would hope someone would if it was my child acting in such an unacceptable manner. Apart from that, they could be vunerable children themselves.

Ok so it was good police did drive round looking for them (didn't find them), however the PC then knocked and as well as thanking me for the call, advised me not to call out to the boys in future as they may target my house.

Although l can see where he was coming from, but at the same time l cannot stand by and just watch a possible vunerable man in a scooter get pelted or damage possibly being caused to other peoples property. When l told him this he said 'just call us', thats ok but lets be honest as its not a 999 call they are long gone by the time police can attend.

All l can say it won't stop me from shouting at them again, and if they did target my property l would hope the police would deal with them (albeit at that age no action would be taken)

mqandy

Im sure the officer (PCSO I bet) meant well, but they do just seem in their own world some times.

Tell your local rag - the Chief Inspector's bonus is linked to 'public confidence', so the paper would love the story, and the police would go into a minor panic.

rsykes2000

It was good advice by the copper. The kids would have known exactly where you live and if they are the type already to be skiving off school and assaulting the elderly, they will know fine well they are below the age where anything can be done by the police. If I saw it in the street and I wasn't outside my house, I would say something, if I was in my house I would think twice as I've lived somewhere where kids targetted it and it can be a living hell.

chrisaj

What ever happened to old fashioned policing..........plods going around on the beat, if kids misbehave then they should be dealt with, not making others feel as if it's them in the wrong. Gone are the days unfortunately where you'd get a rolled up cape slapped across the back of your legs, never mind gong back home telling your parents that plod had hit you, or you'd get another slap as well.Too much !!!!!footing do gooders around..sorry if tht offends, just my thoughts

pimento

Do you live in Laindon by any chance Paul?

cyberbob

chrisaj wrote: »

What ever happened to old fashioned policing..........plods going around on the beat, if kids misbehave then they should be dealt with, not making others feel as if it's them in the wrong. Gone are the days unfortunately where you'd get a rolled up cape slapped across the back of your legs, never mind gong back home telling your parents that plod had hit you, or you'd get another slap as well.Too much !!!!!footing do gooders around..sorry if tht offends, just my thoughts

I'll just put my rose tinted glasses on shall I :cool:

emerald_starcat

I would have thrown the potatoes back at them.

sexylulubelle

rsykes2000 wrote: »

It was good advice by the copper. The kids would have known exactly where you live and if they are the type already to be skiving off school and assaulting the elderly, they will know fine well they are below the age where anything can be done by the police. If I saw it in the street and I wasn't outside my house, I would say something, if I was in my house I would think twice as I've lived somewhere where kids targetted it and it can be a living hell.

I have to agree with rsykes OP, nowadays you dont know what these juvenile delinquents would do in retaliation, so the officer probably had your best interest at heart( well I hope so in anycase lol) I cant believe how rude some of these kids can be, I walked past a group(not older than 13 or so) huddled together having a fag ( all with their school uniforms on) and I just smiled to myself( Comeon most of us have been there:Dand done that) and this offensive little brat smirked at me and said what you laughing at, anyways I just hurried along on my merry way cuz unfortunately I look 16 myself even tho I'm 28 and I use that pathway when I take my son to school! and did not really want it to get confrontational! as I said you never know what they would do to you/your/family/pets/property etc

OnTheUp_2-2

Good on you for trying to protect a vunerable person. Unfortunately I can see where the officer is coming from as he probably has first hand experience of these types of youths and sadly what some can be capable of. However I think its a judgement you should make for yourself, I would be incapable of not reacting even though there could be consequences, but I would also accept that they would probably throw them at me!!

A great way to deal with this is to note the uniform and contact the school. If you re able to describe the youths and where they were (the head normally knows who the trouble makers are) then they will be able to impact on the children and their parents, as alot of schools will discipline for bad behaviour whilst in school uniform, as it brings down the schools name.

rsykes2000

OnTheUp wrote: »

A great way to deal with this is to note the uniform and contact the school..

I very strongly suspect it was their age that made the OP think they should be in school and I doubt they were wearing uniform. Hopefully I am wrong though and they will be able to do as you suggest.

OnTheUp_2-2

Can i catagorically say i have no idea why I thought they were in school unifom lmao!!!


Sorry for the assumption :-))) but hey it would have been good if they were!!