Huge increase in large groups of teenagers terrorising the public

[Shopaholic100]

Has anyone else noticed a huge increase in large groups of teenagers terrorising the public? I was in York today and there were huge groups of teenage boys causing havoc, screaming, swearing, shouting and pulling peoples hats off and throwing them on the floor as they walked past. At the same time another huge group of girls were also screaming and kicking full cans of fizzy drinks around so it was squirting everywhere. Milton Keynes a few weeks ago was the same with large groups running round John Lewis causing havoc whilst security were trying to get them to leave. In another part of the shopping centre another group were causing trouble too. I’ve seen the same in London too. I used to see small groups sometimes do silly things, but the size of the groups is much larger and threatening and they seem fearless. Anyone else noticed this?

Er...no I haven't!

I was in Manchester recently and the police were trying to deal with 100+ traveller teens who were fighting and being abusive amongst themselves and others. Actually frightening given how many there were and the fact their parents were eating in the nearby restaurants seemingly unfazed by it. Selfridges had to close their doors and lock everyone inside. Madness it was like a horror film.

There's always been groups of teens but I imagine with social media now all the smaller groups will meet up. So easy to imagine groups of 100+

I remember this in the 1980s. Usually big fights between areas or schools. Or a big group being little dicks.

Try living in Wirral or Liverpool. Daily occurrence and the police won't do a thing.

I live in a small town (which is actually quite nice) and it’s rife here, kids (12,13,14) breaking into shops/hairdressers to nick stuff, stealing bikes, breaking windows, destroying stuff on peoples property, booting old peoples doors (scaring them half to death) all while wearing Balaclavas that are very popular with the kids these days. Nothing ever gets done. Terrible.

Yep. An issue by us too. Kids running up and down escalators and locally , just bring a nuisance in shops

Nope can’t say I’ve seen anything like this. Live in Scotland in a fairly large town and spend time in Edinburgh regularly, and we were in London last week too and saw no hordes of teens.

Yes, I've noticed this in my town over the last 10 years or so. York was somewhere we went to get away from this shit to be honest, so sorry it's happening there too.

Yes. We occasionally have groups roaming at night here. Sainsbury's has closed its side entrance to stop the theft. They seem to spend a lot of time on the tram too.

Thankfully not in my area but have seen lots of this on social media.
People saying as above its all getting organised via social media and the unlimited free bus travel makes it easy and free for them to go anywhere and do it!

The results of gentle parenting.

Blooming heck. Didn't realise. I stay in,a lot- Covid fears and when it's dark and am.planning on moving from.the less than salubrious Midlands town where I live hopefully before I start feeling vulnerable. Shocking behaviour. The police should be hauling them in.

Nothing like that in our town

Citation?

I've read in the local news about gangs of youths in one town causing chaos, in and around McDonalds. The poor staff in there are terrorised.

@Hartlebury This isn’ a peer reviewed academic journal so people are allowed to have opinions.

I don't think the parents of these teens have been practicing gentle parenting. Just a hunch.

I think its more the result of a lack of parenting,rather than gentle.

Off topic perhaps but where is the unlimited free bus travel?

Yes it's increasing.

Combination of factors.

They know police forces are short and they won't get stopped.

They know if they are caught their parents won't care.

Lockdowns has affected teens generally and behaviour in schools is worse too.

General life. We are in a time of general disenfranchisement with the country and this is affecting adults and kids ime and the kids respond this way.

And for all those saying they remember the same thing in the 80's - it was exactly the same situation.

It's so sad. A film came up on SM last week of a group of teens throwing chairs at people eating in a cafe. That was a news report from a city newspaper.

My hunch they have

Teenagers have never had anything to do. Social media makes it easy to meet up with other groups. Peer pressure. No police to do anything about it. Easy targets.

It can only get worse as more groups start doing it. Kids love being on video/TikTok.

I've worked in a large secondary school for a very long time. Not once in decades have I felt unsafe challenging large groups of teenagers behaving badly, until a recent day of 'protests' by students. I am now frantically considering options for getting out ASAP.

This was a thing in parts of the midlands since the 2000's.
Teens throwing stuff at old women as they do their shopping.
Following people and shouting abuse at them.
Smashing up the local high street so people couldn't go after school finished.
Vandalising cars.
Abusing strangers and the bus driver on public transport.
Vandalising bus stops.
Hurting cats.
Randomly hitting people at the back of the head.
Asking people for cigarettes and then abusing them if they say no.
Very much the, 'what you lookin' at?' caricature.
It was dreadful.
One of the reasons that I left.
It doesn't get better.