School children smoking weed on mum's property

hazyjo

There are police siren recordings on youtube. Find one (or record something) and loop it (right click on youtube). Play as loud as possible. They ain't going to hang around to check - they will scarper like rats down a drain.


Done it where I lived to shift them from the end of an alleyway round the corner. It works.

PlotOne

jenberry wrote: »

Hi all,
Apologies if this is the wrong forum but seemed the most fitting. My mum lives in a block of flats which has a private carpark and allocated parking. Unfortunately, for the past year or so, teenagers from the local school have been using the carpark during lunchtimes and after school to stand and smoke weed, often to drink alcohol. There are several groups that do this, and they can be quite intimidating. They leave rubbish and paraphernalia behind, and my mum's car has been broken into during the winter where a group of boys have smoked weed in the car and left the car in a mess. This has become a daily occurrence and is affecting how safe both my mum and I feel in the flat. We have contacted the police on 101 and they've told us they can't really do anything. We've also contacted the school and kept a log. My mum has also taken pictures of the teenagers but I don't encourage this as I don't think it's a good idea for her to be seen. Is there anything else that can be done or do we just have to accept this? It seems unfair that we should have to deal with groups of teenagers hanging around the property and leaving their cr*p behind, shouting abuse at residents but I'm at the end of my tether trying to get this sorted. Would really appreciate your insights, thank you.

I suggest in the first instance you try contacting the police again. Either the person you have spoke to so far does not knoiw what they are doing, or perhaps you misunderstood the advice given.

The police's primary role and functions are to protect public saftey, maintain public order, enforce the law, and prevent, detect, and investigate criminal activities.

(I'm sure I don't need to remind anyone that simply being in possession of a class B drug, which cannabis is, is a criminal act)

If the police understood correctly the allegations you have made, then saying they can't do anything would lead to the question what in fact do they get paid for.

If you remain unsatisfied with their response to your concerns, ask for details of how to raise a fomal complaint; all forces have a comprehensive and effective complaints procedure.

Many complaints are often resolved by a simple phone call to you by a senior/experienced police officer any of whom will be astounded that, for whatever reason, you have been left with the understanding you have. I don't know if you are aware, but calls to 101 (or 999) are not usually handled by police officers at all, but civilians working for the police to answer calls. (but that is no excuse)

But in the unlikely event that does not resolve the compliant, the complaints procedure will inform you how exactly to take matters further.

-taff

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2006/04/04/mosquito_sound_wave_feature.shtml

PlotOne

jenberry wrote: »

Thank you. I will have a look into the local councillors. The local police (on 101) say that as they aren't committing a crime as such, they can't do anything. I thought smoking weed was a crime but what do I know?! They are very hesitant to come out and do anything about it.

On your evidence, they are in contravention of The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 by simply being is possession of weed (cannabis).

I cannot imagine how, even a civilian police employee employed in the control room to take calls from the public, would not be aware that is a crime.

Upon conviction, simple possession can result in up to 5 years in custody, althoough in reality simple possession (especioally for a first offence) is often dealt with by the magistrates court where the maximum sentence would only be 6 months in custody.
Depending on the circumstances, the criminal may not receive any custodial sentence for simple possession (but who knows, one or more of the teenagers may be supplying another, even if just in a social manner?), dut it is still a criminal offence.

This can directly affect the persons ability to obatin certain jobs in future, or travel to some destinations (such as the USA!), which in inself may prevent them from obtaining certain jobs in future if travel may be expected to those locations.

PlotOne

jenberry wrote: »

We tried that but it would incur significant cost to the residents and about 25% weren't willing to pay. So we installed faux CCTV and the teenagers ripped them down within a day.

You don't need to.
You already have photos of the alleged criminals involved in alleged criminal activity according to your OP.

If you have evidence of teenagers ripping down faux CCTV cameras, then you can add criminal damage to the increasing list of criminal activity you have already described.

Gavin83

jenberry wrote: »

I thought smoking weed was a crime but what do I know?!

It is but barely. Police often turn a blind eye to cannabis possession and even if caught it won't go any further, it'll just be a simple roadside formal warning which is basically meaningless, at least initially. I'd say the more serious crimes here in the criminal damage and breaking into the car and I'm surprised they aren't dealing with this.

I'm more surprised the school aren't dealing with it to be honest. Schools have an obligation towards local residents and they're generally pretty hot on this. I'm guessing the school isn't far away and it really wouldn't take much effort for them to send a few teachers round a few lunchtimes and deal with the perpetrators. Once they realise teachers will randomly turn up they'll move on to somewhere more hassle free.

In your position I'd get on to the school, make it clear the issues their pupils are causing and ask what they plan to do about it.

PlotOne

Gavin83 wrote: »

It is but barely. Police often turn a blind eye to cannabis possession and even if caught it won't go any further, it'll just be a simple roadside formal warning which is basically meaningless, at least initially. I'd say the more serious crimes here in the criminal damage and breaking into the car and I'm surprised they aren't dealing with this.

I'm more surprised the school aren't dealing with it to be honest. Schools have an obligation towards local residents and they're generally pretty hot on this. I'm guessing the school isn't far away and it really wouldn't take much effort for them to send a few teachers round a few lunchtimes and deal with the perpetrators. Once they realise teachers will randomly turn up they'll move on to somewhere more hassle free.

In your position I'd get on to the school, make it clear the issues their pupils are causing and ask what they plan to do about it.

Simple possession of cannabis is the easiest nick.
It's an absolute offence. i.e. needs no evidence of intent; the possession itself is proof of the offence.
The only possible argument sometimes foolishly put forward is that it's not cannabis they are smoking, in which case simple forensic analysis will establish whether it is or not.

Also, as I mentioned, there could well be one or more cases of supply here, unless they all went off to a local dealer elsewhere and each purchased their own drugs before all congregating in the car park for a communal puff. :cool:

Warnings are only given for possession, not usually for supply, and are only ever given once for the offence. It's at the officers discretion, and whilst a warning does not create admission of any criminal offence, it is recorded by police so that is why it won't be given again. It can also be brought to the attention of a court at later date, if the same person later ends up there for any other matter.

But that is not to denigrate from the list of other criminal activities these teenagers have/are allegedly committing, and in those circumstances it is unlikely a police warning would be considered appropriate.

Be aware a police warning is not the same as a police caution. A police cuation may be considered appropriate, but that relies on the perpetrator admitting the crime, and so they are then classed as a criminal.

Any even half decent school would, inho, inform the police if they had any reason to suspect anyone of their pupils (or staff) had possession. let alone used, illegal narcotics. This is a lot more serious than having a puff of tabacco behind the bike sheds.

If you were to spend even a day in almost any court in this land, you will find about 50% if not more of the cases are related to the scourge of our modern society i.e. illegal drugs, whether that is possession, supply or just other matters directly associated with such use, from affray & petty theft to knife crime & GBH ... and worse.

It would be wrong to think the police are not fully aware of this, and do not bring perpetrators before the courts where deemed appropriate, for it is they that have to pick up the pieces later if they don't.

Erinome

jenberry wrote: »

Hi all,
Apologies if this is the wrong forum but seemed the most fitting. My mum lives in a block of flats which has a private carpark and allocated parking. Unfortunately, for the past year or so, teenagers from the local school have been using the carpark during lunchtimes and after school to stand and smoke weed, often to drink alcohol. There are several groups that do this, and they can be quite intimidating. They leave rubbish and paraphernalia behind, and my mum's car has been broken into during the winter where a group of boys have smoked weed in the car and left the car in a mess. This has become a daily occurrence and is affecting how safe both my mum and I feel in the flat. We have contacted the police on 101 and they've told us they can't really do anything. We've also contacted the school and kept a log. My mum has also taken pictures of the teenagers but I don't encourage this as I don't think it's a good idea for her to be seen. Is there anything else that can be done or do we just have to accept this? It seems unfair that we should have to deal with groups of teenagers hanging around the property and leaving their cr*p behind, shouting abuse at residents but I'm at the end of my tether trying to get this sorted. Would really appreciate your insights, thank you.

jenberry wrote: »

Thank you. I will have a look into the local councillors. The local police (on 101) say that as they aren't committing a crime as such, they can't do anything. I thought smoking weed was a crime but what do I know?! They are very hesitant to come out and do anything about it.

Maybe speak with another police officer. I think you are being fobbed off. How they can claim that the bolded bits in your first post are not a crime I do not know. I suspect they're under resourced and/or wanting an easy life! A bit of adverse publicity might also work in your mum's favour, as has been suggested.

Sea_Shell

The trouble is, if kids get away scott free for this type of behaviour, what's next?

Surely part of the police's remit is crime "prevention".

I'd keep ringing and notifying them regularly and be onto the school too.

Gavin83

PlotOne wrote: »

Also, as I mentioned, there could well be one or more cases of supply here, unless they all went off to a local dealer elsewhere and each purchased their own drugs before all congregating in the car park for a communal puff. :cool:

They're not getting arrested for dealing simply for sharing out a bit of weed with their mates. It simply isn't happening.

I really think the weed element is unlikely to get the police out, as I said it's barely illegal anymore and most police won't care. The repeated criminal damage should make them sit up and take notice though.

And there's a topic on whether drugs should be legal or not in discussion time at the moment. I suggest keeping such opinions to there and keep this topic regarding this case.

Erinome wrote: »

Maybe speak with another police officer. I think you are being fobbed off. How they can claim that the bolded bits in your first post are not a crime I do not know. I suspect they're under resourced and/or wanting an easy life! A bit of adverse publicity might also work in your mum's favour, as has been suggested.

To be fair two of those aren't illegal, two are barely illegal but one is a fairly serious crime. The police should be interested in the break in, can't see them caring much about the rest. I'm assuming given what's happening this isn't a particularly nice area and they won't come out for a few kids smoking weed.

I'll stand by my previous suggestion, I'd be pushing the school more than anything.