to have reported two boys for throwing a stone at my while pushing pram today?

[overthehillsandfaraway]

Genuine question. I was walking home from the local shopping centre, pushing the double buggy with dc's. I walked past two boys (I'm guessing about 10/12 years) at a bus stop and heard one of the same something. I was gone past when I realised it was probably aimed in my direction but didn't catch the whole sentance just heard him say something about two kids.

I paid no attention at all, and a few seconds later one of them threw a stone at my back really quite hard! I turned around on impulse and shouted Oi or something to that effect and they just said "what? what?" smirking away to each other.

I turned back and walked off. Once I had rounded the corner I rang dh and realised I was really mad, how can kids think its okay to do this sort of thing? I had the number advertised locally to stop anti-social behaviour in my phone so I rang and reported it. Now they are coming to see me tomorrow as it is classed as assult.

I feel a bit like I've made a mountain out of a molehill. So, have I just wasted precious police time? Or is it right to report this kind of behaviour? Really curious as to what people think

no, I agree you did the right thing. I would have done the same. I was just responding to the posters who said it was best not to antagonise them.

This is the way our society is going I am afraid
People have no respect nowerdays

Oh shush with the Hell in a Handcart routine.

You did the right thing reporting the little b'stards, definitely. It's not your place to take on two other aggressive people whatever their ages.

Just to say that technically there is no problem at all in taking photos of kids if they are in public places. If the police take a dim view, tell them to focus on the actual criminality, ie throwing stones. There is no right to privacy or freedom from being photographed in public.

You definitely did the right thing.

Leaving aside the fact that someone could have been hurt, and assaulting a mum out with children is off the planet when it comes to 'misbehaviour', just maybe your intervening will mean that this gets stopped in its tracks and they get a better chance in life as a consequence. Which in turn is better for all of us.

I remember when I was a teenager, a three yr old threw a stone at me and told me to eff off. Freaked me out totally, poor little sod, he looked terrified of anyone bigger going anywhere near him. Had I known what I do now I would have reported it but I was only 14 and pretty clueless.

That's sad spiritmum. The police were supposed to come round within an hour of me phoning them but they rang back to say they were too busy and have made an appointment to call tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone now I won't keep apologising for wasting their time. Will they really check if its on CCTV and stuff?

A boy threw eggs at my friend with her pram at a train station. She rang the non-emergency police number and was totally made to feel as if she was wasting their time.
They asked her if it was a particularly big egg, or 'just' a normal one. Then asked why she had bothered to ring!

Ah well, that is London for you.

You did the right thing OP.

Creepy, agree, that's London for you. Although it's not always that bad. I did get a bunch of teenagers to apologise when I chased after them and told them off (for spitting on the back of my coat). AND they apologised to ds for upsetting him. Felt quite empowered. Then they jumped the barriers into the tube but I felt I'd done my bit for standards that day and wasn't about to go after them again!

yanbu at all. Where I used to live, a group of kids threw stones at a man in a park and he fell and died.

I reported some school kids (12/13 ish) to their school for chewing up paper and spitting it at people in a cafe (they were bunking off). I went to the school the next day and picked their photos out of the yearbook so they knew exactly who it was. If the kids feel like they are immune and there are no consequences it will keep happening.

This was in London too - now if the police could just keep the crack smokers out of the playground opposite my son's nursery life would be hunkydory

Well done for reporting it.

YADNBU my eldest got caught up in throwing stones with other kids and got held in the street for 45 by police. When I found out he had been involved, as opposed to the story he originally told me, I came down on him like 20 tonnes of bricks.

Kids need to learn and unless people report them then they won't!

that should say 45 minutes

All this makes me SO very happy I left the UK... Nowhere else in the world have I witnessed such atrocious behaviour from children and teenagers.

Aurynne, you definitely don't want to venture into the suburbs of Paris then! Anti-social behaviour in youngsters is a massive problem in most, if not all, western European countries.

Well the police have just been and we're great. Asked lots of questions and we going to ask local business for cctv etc. Also told me to call them if I see them again.

I'm really glad that I reported them now.

Well done, IMO you did the right thing. One day throwing stones, the next stealing old ladies handbags if people don't intervene and get them back on the right track.

feral little feckers, i'd have shouted at them like a mental thing, and insisted they call out their parents unless they want teh police. Kids are chicken, be tough

I think I would have snarled at the little buggers and said something like you're in so much trouble for that. I'm reporting you to the police unless you apologise.

Gives them a chance to say sorry and also get the message they can't just get away with it.