to report this to the police, even though I am technically implicating myself?

Good thing they weren't stroking a random cat.....

@ToplessWordle "Or are you suggesting that the law only applies to white British people and we should turn a blind eye to crimes committed by people of other races?"

No. Nobody is thinking that. For a second. Don't worry.

It is relevant because if she saw two white dudes having a beer, she would not be reporting them. She wanted to report them because she made a connection between them, their likely place of work (they must stand out in her white community) and the fact they sell duck dishes and probably all the stories on Daily Fail where foreigners from all over the world steal and eat local wildlife (funnily you dont see stories about white British people doing the same in the said newspaper).

No, I’m suggesting she thought they must be stealing ducks because they were not white British and because she thought they worked in a local takeaway that serves duck and because stealing waterfowl is a typical Daily Mail anti immigrant headline that gets trotted out with some regularity that gave her the idea in the first place. As it turns out they were doing nothing at all illegal, and thr OP simply put 2 and 2 together and came up with an (implicitly) racist 5.

But why is this even relevant? If the OP suspects somebody of committing a crime, she should report it, regardless of that person's ethnicity. Or are you suggesting that the law only applies to white British people and we should turn a blind eye to crimes committed by people of other races? If so, please remember that it was this way of thinking that led to child grooming gangs in places like Rotherham, Rochdale, Telford etc being able to operate with impunity for decades, wrecking the lives of thousands of young girls who were sexually abused and exploited.

"This was never about race, it was the connection between suspicious behaviour around ducks combined with recognising the men from a takeaway restaurant that serves duck."

Nope. Nothing racist about that at all. Nothing to see here. Step away.

Remember this takeaway serves ducks, how 'likely' is it for them to be white. Id not be surprised if they were not even the actual workers in that takeaway anyways, but you know, men who looked 'similar'...

You should definitely report it, "egregious and unsolicited feeding of wildlife in a public space without provocation or just reward at unsociable hours" is an offence that could result in a serious slap on the back or even a hearty handshake. You must report it the cops need a good laugh and hopefully will take a dangerous dog off the streets as well. It's a win win for everyone.

So just to be clear - the guys working late in the local takeaway (that you are so familiar with you can recognise them from a distance in a park before sunise) - were they white British guys?

May be worth reading the updates, you're a bit late to the party.

Hilarious 😂!
Thank you for the update, glad you didn't get arrested as a peeping tom!

I would report it to the community police or the council if it is a council park. At the very least they are causing a litter problem feeding the birds bread (which is not good for them) At worst it is theft and animal cruelty. Better to report it and be wrong than a crime being commited and ignoring it. As long as your dog is muzzled and neutered as per the law you really shouldn't have a problem.

The whole thing made me laugh. Especially the bit where you were hiding for so long. Also you repeatedly state your dog is on a lead and muzzled yet people kept accusing you of breaking that law. I'm almost sure, that both parties going into a supposedly locked park would be officially wrong. However if no one is fixing the broken places they probably dont care. 😂

That's it... I'm not eating shredded duck from my local take away every again 😬😆

I suggest next time OP hides in the bushes in front of the restaurant... she may find out she got totally wrong guys too.

Why would they be catching ducks again?

Did you know ducks make an absolute racket if they are threatened?

You are jumping to mad conclusions and are being unreasonable without evidence!

Did they have pancakes and hoisin sauce with them too? If so I’d be very worried!

Sorry, whats responsible about breaching the exemption conditions for her dog by letting it run around in a public park, presumably unmuzzled too, on the grounds that because it is locked it is therefore private property ... totally missing the point that the exemption certificate only allows you to have your dog off lead and unmuzzled on your own property.

Oh goodness, that’s not your concern, OP, has said the reason for going to the park at that time, she sounds very responsible, wanting her dog to be left on his/her own to have some freedom, if you had a dog you’d understand.
They’re probably feeding the ducks, really, with black bags next to them at 4am! another
assumption you’re making, not very helpful.
Anyway back to the original post, l personally think it is suspicious, l would report it, because it is actually illegal to intentionally injure/kill take any wild bird.
I understand you being cautious, reporting this, however you haven’t done anything illegal, you have a concern, if l was in your position l would report it, even if you do it anonymously.l don’t think it’s funny, like some of the other comments and it’s the right thing to do.

So those guys were swimming in the lake at 4 a.m. and then having a cuppa? Weirdos! 😂Glad the ducks are OK though!

Yes, you are being unreasonable. You haven't seen those guys do anything illegal, and it sounds as if they are harmless. The idea that they are catching ducks seems extremely far-fetched. Those ducks would likely be extremely tough and would not make a delicious confit de canard. For all you know, they may not have anywhere to live, and camp out in the park; you could be doing them a lot of damage by reporting them. They are probably wondering why you are walking a dangerous dog in the park at 4am, and feeling pretty nervous that your dog might attack them.