Anti-social behavours - school children in uniform

[Talkietalk]

More of a WWYD but happy to hear if anyone thinks I have gone too far.

On the walk to work I have been seeing a group of uniformed lads perhaps 11-14 running around a busy car park laying with a football(contains a bus station that drives around it with a big road down the middle for cars, buses and taxis). I have on different days seen balls kicked at cars, people and cars stuck unable to get past them.

I recognised the school and emailed them. Heard nothing but it continued. Contacted school again. Heard nothing. Contacted PCSO (only today) but was so disgusted with the attitude of the lads after I spoke with them - exact words - 'This is not the place to play football' I videoed them and contacted the local paper asking if they would do an article about safety which they seemed very keen on.

I am not after any person being in trouble, but I want them to go play in a field - plenty at the school and in local area - town.

Is there any other way I could have handled it - save for ignoring it. Having seen one of the boys running at a car after the ball I really thought it important that the school handle the matter. I escalated it as the school has either done nothing or they have been ignored.

[TeenAndTween]

What time frame?
If first contact with school was a month ago then YANBU.
If first contact was Monday this week then YABU.

[Dontactlikeyouknowme]

I don't think you should have videoed them or gone to the local paper.

[Foxyloxy1plus1]

I would have thought that if they were in school uniform, the school would want to know, since they are, in effect, representing the school.

[HarrietVane99]

Have you tried phoning the school? I agreed it sounds dangerous and should be stopped before someone is injured. A boy was killed at my local bus station some years ago - he was messing about in the bus lane, on the wrong side of the railings, and was hit by a reversing bus.

Back in my schooldays, if anyone in our uniform was reported for misbehaving in public, the whole school got a bollocking from the Head in assembly. It doesn't seem to work like that these days. At another local bus station I was told they'd had teachers and police supervising after school at times, but as soon as they stop, the bad behaviour starts up again.

[Birdsgottaf1y]

The PCO was the right way to go, if the school is ignoring it, but I would have gone back to the school.

In my area, the Police would have been appropriate, but I live in a rough area, were things escalate.