How do we, as parents, approach the police regarding anti social behaviour outside school?

I also complained about public defecation. The council actually got off its arse, and street cleaned some particularly bad areas.

It takes time and concerted effort but does get results eventually.

I actually had this same problem OP. Knife pulled outside the school and in general the drugs and ASB are awful.

I went straight on the police force Facebook page and said if they really couldn't spare the resources for patrols it was time to get the retired officers to do prevention work. I said if another blade incident happened, I would not be supporting my child's attendance at the school. I also went to see the local police commissioner, who was up for reelection so was holding surgeries.

This has triggered visible policing in the area outside the gates at home time. Although this seems to have tailed off now, there have been no more blade incidents near the school (fingers crossed) and the tone and response of local police has changed for the better.

I've also complained (factually) to the council and individual councillors about their complete failure in tackling AS behaviours with eg enforcement of fines, generally asking them why they aren't doing their jobs when they say they are, and requesting a council tax refund. Many other people regularly complain about the crappy council and I think this is the key, get loads of people to specify exactly what changes they want to see and forcing the council to explain itself. I have seen small improvements, as in anti-street drinking signs put up, drains cleared etc.

It's well worth finding out who the councillors are and who holds the balance of power on your council.

If your MP is any good then contact them as well.

Go to the local press.

And councillors

It’s vile. I can see why the school want parents to complain directly to the police - they’re hoping the volume of complaints will force some action. It’s a good call to involve local councillors and your MP. The shitting out on paths makes it a public health issue.

Hm it's a tricky one the police in this country are pretty damn useless sometimes you have no choice but to tackle illegal behaviour with illegal behaviour

The police kept claiming we hadn't reported anything. So we now have a Google doc to log crime reporting numbers and video footage. When our Councillor sent them that, they arranged a meeting.....

If the school have already tried it with the police and the police haven't done anything then unfortunately seems there's little you can legally do.

Assuming there's limited CCTV if they've pulled a knife and the police haven't done anything.

So maybe a big group of the dads need to do something.....

Well surely the Police should be called every single time any of these offences are committed? Particularly someone brandishing a knife FFS!!

I'd suggest contacting your local policing team & asking to arrange a meeting with them to discuss things.

If the teachers on MN are to be believed, things are so bad in education that it’s possible these homeless people are teachers preparing lesson plans.

Is there a particular reason that they are hanging out around the school? Is the area that they gather on public or private property? I know in my local city that a number of lanes were closed off because of antisocial acts.

Isn’t this safeguarding?

I can’t understand why the LEA and police aren’t acting on it.

You could discuss the potential of Criminal Behaviour Orders with the Police, they can be useful for persistent behaviours.

Email the local councillor for the ward and ask to discuss.

Local councillors can be excellent resources for getting things moving along (if you are lucky enough to have a competent one).

There is probably something like a neighbourhood policing forum that the councillors will be involved in.

Local councillor might be a good step before the MP, ours are actually quite helpful and have prodded the police where needed.

The school is already dealing with the police about it. What do you think you can do that they can't?

Do you have a local newspaper? Get together a group of parents and form an 'action group'. Speak to your local press and emphasise that despite numerous complaints from the school, the police don't appear to be taking it seriously. This will put pressure on the police to act. Also post every incident in your local Facebook groups. If you raise awareness of the problem, more people will put pressure on them to act. Have you spoken to local council? I have every sympathy for the homeless population but children should be able to go to school without fear of harassment and antisocial behaviour.

All 5 of those things mentioned in the OP are illegal. Don't minimise this, homeless or not.

OP I'd definitely get your MP involved.

Could you contact your MP? I would try that too.