kids playing football-what do i do??

Benny24

Sadly "no ball games" signs are not enforceable. We have the same problem where I live. We back onto a small field surrounded by houses, which in the deeds is actually meant to be a childrens play park, but it never got built!

The front of our house is in a cul-de-sac, the local kids used to play football on the field, great no problem, until they started damaging a fence that was erected above the brick wall surrounding the field. Owner of the fence made numerous complaints to police, and now large stones have been placed in the field to stop the children playing football!

So now where do they play......in the cul-de-sac, where there are lots of expensive cars, (now with obligatory football marks on them). Just waiting for some real damage to occur and police will be called.

Worse thing is you try and speak with them politely, tell them how annoying it is to hear the ball constantly banging about, and could they go and play outside their own house as they don't even live in the cul-de-sac, and all you get is verbal abuse. You also wonder if your car will be ok in the morning!

Best of luck to you OP, but the moral from our story certainly seems to be that if you have the visible damage and you complain PERSISTENTLY you should get action!

DKLS

Dan_Thunder wrote: »

You need to invest in one of these fantastic devices!

I happily would Dan, and loaded with hollow points, but start putting messages about harming "delightful children who are only playing" tends to attract the wrath of parents on here. So I tend not to bother.

alfiedog_2

I have the utmost sympathy for anyone who has to put up with this sort of behaviour as we had to move house in the end just for some peace of mind.
What annoyed me the most was the fact that the kids involved never played outside their own houses or damaged their parents cars, it was always someone elses.
I walk my dog in a large country park, so large it hosts pop concerts each year, so there is acres and acres of grass to play football on. The other week some boys were kicking a ball in the car park and hitting all the cars parked there. A man told them to stop and pointed out all the grass they could be playing on and he got the most horrendous verbal abuse:mad: and as he drove off they kicked the ball really hard at his car. They thought it was hilarious. This was the sort of attitude we faced at our old house and in the end we had to give in and move:mad:

geordiepaul2001

As was mentioned earlier no ball games signs are non enforeceable.
As for asbo's, there is a a long winded process to go through before you reach that stage.

Firstly I would contact my local council and ask for diary sheets to be sent out so that you can officially record the time, date etc of each incident.

Then I get in contact with my local community support officer(s) or neighbour beat manager. You can find out there number by visiting your forces website or calling the local police station and asking to be put through to the neighbourhood team.
Explain the situation to them and ask for assistance in tackling the issue.
Also advise them that you will call up everytime the problem arises (if your area has the 101 service then use this, if not call your police non-emergency number).
Everytime the officers find that they are engaging in antisocial behaviour, an antisocial behaviour form will be filled in.
If they receive three of these, they get invited in to sign an acceptable behaviour contract (ABA) which might includes rules such as I will not play football against private property.
If they then break this ABA repeatedly, an asbo can be applied for, though I wouldn't hold your breathe for footbal related matters.

Hope this helps.

p.s. If you feel that you can, asking them not to do it can sometimes work.

Hope this helps

strawberryberry

My mum and Dad had exactly the same thing damage to fence and cars and boys (some were going on for 16) jumping over the fence to get the ball back.
There is a football area a few yards down the road and lts of green grass areas but they perfered the fence as a goal post.
When my parents were ill and ben ridden ( over 70) and could not get out to give the ball back even if they had been aware it was there - the parents had the cheek to call the police who came round that day and demand the ball back. It was a good job I answered the door as I was looking after them we had no idea that the ball was in the back garden anyway but what a waste of police time. The police didnt want to know about the damages caused etc.
I could rant all day - but all the complaining did no good.
The only advice I can give that worked for me when the same thing happened was to tell a lie in the nicest way and I really layed it on that someone disabled had moved in and they were sooo ill not only were they easily distressed but the disabled van had to have easy access and may run the footballers over if they couldnt be seen when reversing. The disabled elderly person was not going to last long and every effort to make their last weeks comfortable would be appreciated. etc etc.
Never had trouble from them again they stayed well clear - thats been over 3 years now !
Hope this helps

Tracy_E_A

We used to have the same problem where i live to. I live in a cul de sac with a green outside. I think its great that the kids can play where there parents can see them but i object to half of the village coming to play a football match. Little kids are fine its the larger ones that boot it like they are playing for Man u. We have had our car hit until my hubby went out and told them if it happened again he would be seeing there parents and getting them to pay for any damage. I just dont get why they seem to have no consideration, some dont even look when running into the middle of the road. The language was also a problem, we couldnt even open our from window without hearing kids telling each other to F off :rolleyes: We dont seem to have the same problem after so many people complained and a letter was sent to all the parents in the surrounding area asking them to keep an eye on there children or there children would get done for anti social behaviour.
I hope you can sort it OP, if it gets to much i would complain to the council and keep ringing until they listen.

journ

I hate it when i hear so called parents say not my children but they know it was there children:mad: This was a nightmare when i first moved here and one of the kids father worked for the police so they thought they had the right to break peoples windows, play football , and pulling plants out but every time i went around there home, there parents are sitting watching the TV and there kids are making peoples liefs hell
In the end all of the neighbors got together to complain to the police and council and things did stop.

ixwood

I didn't realise playing footy was illegal.

Maybe you should go in goal?

peediedj

suzysue wrote: »

I also live in a cul-de-sac where children play. I I'm sorry but I'm struggling to see how calling the police out to the family or trying to get an asbo on the boys for playing football is productive in any way.
Talk to the lads and explain that the noise of the ball gets a bit annoying and could they cool it for a bit and try and keep the ball away from the cars.
You could try and sit outside with your son and let him watch them play football, try and get a dialog going between yourselves and the lads.

sorry all thats been done they have the attitude there above the law,and the fater thinks he can buy locals drink in his pub to buy there friendship,criminal damage is being done,what am i suppsoed to do? watch my car get dent just because tthere bored?

peediedj

ixwood wrote: »

I didn't realise playing footy was illegal.

it isnt,but sadly criminal damage to cars and fences is:rolleyes: