Can I get away with firing a BB gun at children?

MamaMoo_2

Thanks for all the input.
Firstly, the police round here are a bit poo. I called the police a while back when I saw the kids smashing up the community centre (the kids don't know it's me, so it's not like they're trying to get back at me)
I'm pretty sure that none of them were punished, and the local PCSO's don't bother moving them on, even if they're being a nuisance. The woman who runs the local newsagent said that despite a lot of the shopkeepers complaining to the police & PCSO's, that nothing has been done.

Unfortunately, I get the feeling if I called the police and said I had been called fat by a bunch of kids, and that I found them intimidating, I'd be ridiculed and ignored.

And yes, it's my husband and not the kids who has the BB gun. (It's supposed to be for shooting rats on the rooves out the back, but since the council dealt with those, my husband mainly uses it to shoot tin cans and pretend he's James Bond...)

The shopping parade is monitored 24/7 by CCTV (I know this, because frequently a loud booming voice comes across the tannoy outside my window, and shouts at people riding bikes, faffing with the flower beds etc) so it's possible to see what a nuisance they are, but I just don't think the council/police can be bothered with the trouble.

MamaMoo_2

liam8282 wrote: »

With regards to the BB gun, it was the OPs husband that had the BB gun not the kids.

OP - calling the police because you have been called fat a couple of times seems a bit OTT to me.

Have you stood up for yourself and told them to stop?

Nope, I haven't stood up for myself really. I've seen these kids kick off, I have no intention of having the sh*t kicked out of me by 10-15 chavlets at 32 weeks pregnant.

Enfieldian

giraffe69 wrote: »

You must feel comfortable allowing them to have and use such things. Do they also go to the local shopping parade to abuse pregnant women?

Random and irrelevant post of the week award contender.

Well done.

jamespir

adouglasmhor wrote: »

James why did you move to Pontypool and not Bridgend?

cause i did whats that got to do with this

giraffe69

Maybe they use them in a safe manner in a garden or field

Of course. On their way home from Sunday School probably.

MamaMoo_2

giraffe69 wrote: »

Of course. On their way home from Sunday School probably.

I had a BB gun growing up. I used to have a corner of the garden with some old tin cans and rubber duckies to shoot at.
Both of my brothers have one too, an they both shoot at targets in the garden. They also have nice big steel bows & arrows, and go to an archery club.
The only person I've ever seen use it irresponsibly was my brother in law, who shot my husband. And that was just plain funny.
Some weapons can be used for fun, as long as they're use for target practice and not for attacking others

burnleymik

Try and get a CD of that peircing noise only the youths can hear and play it continusly everytime they are there causing a nuisance, or even some old terrible music

MamaMoo_2

burnleymik wrote: »

Try and get a CD of that peircing noise only the youths can hear and play it continusly everytime they are there causing a nuisance, or even some old terrible music

I'm only 21, so that noise would drive me mad. My husband and I are quite partial to metal music and other such shouty stuff, so I may have to plug his powerful guitar amp into my iPod and blast a little bit of Machine Head & BMTH.
Failing that, I'll head to YouTube & blast some Jedward.
Oh, if only my neighbours wouldn't mind!

burnleymik

MamaMoo wrote: »

I'm only 21, so that noise would drive me mad. My husband and I are quite partial to metal music and other such shouty stuff, so I may have to plug his powerful guitar amp into my iPod and blast a little bit of Machine Head & BMTH.
Failing that, I'll head to YouTube & blast some Jedward.
Oh, if only my neighbours wouldn't mind!

haha. Jedward, that's definately the way forward. Play that and the youths are gone, like the Cillit Bang of Youth control!

I totally agree with others re confronting them as this will certainly be more hassle than it is worth.

I would suggest you get a diary and write down and record dates and times of all the anti-social behaviour, including the intimidation. Supply this information to your local council and also if you have a PCSO, sort of build a case. Keep pestering them too and let them know there is clearly a problem.

ookware

MamaMoo wrote: »

Unfortunately, I get the feeling if I called the police and said I had been called fat by a bunch of kids, and that I found them intimidating, I'd be ridiculed and ignored.

I'm sorry you've had that response so far. At the end of the day if you are feeling threatened then you have a right to report it. Please don't feel that you are wasting their time or they are mocking you etc. If it happens again I strongly suggest calling them, they may not turn up but it will be logged and the more calls they have the more they have to do something.

If you find you're not getting a satisfactory outcome call and say you want to make a complaint, then you should definitely get someone coming to do something.

If that still doesn't work (and if it's getting worse) you might consider complaining to the IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission).

Finally please don't EVER call suggesting someone might have a gun to get a quicker response for a few reasons.

1) If there is a real job with firearms you'll be taking armed officers away from there putting other people at risk

2) It won't result in a quicker response as you have to wait for armed officers to arrive who usually take longer than unarmed ones as there are less of them and they have to meet and decide the best way to deal with the incident (obviously if there is an immediate threat they tend to rush in but in a situation like the above where no one is in immediate danger they will hold back and monitor before doing anything)

3) You could be prosecuted for wasting police time/abusing 999

4) Other unarmed officers will have to come and close roads etc to make the area safe, meaning they can't respond to 999 calls for example someone getting their head kicked in.

Yes it is frustrating when police don't turn up when you call but believe me most times they would if they could, unfortunately there aren't the resources to make it happen all the time. Please don't stretch them even further.

And yes I'm aware most of you said it joking but this is just in case someone thought they'd try it.