Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

To expect to be able to use a park without being abused by teenagers?

23 replies

jocar2007 · 20/03/2011 22:17

My husband and I took our 2 year old daughter to our local park today and there were about 10 teenagers there climbing all over the equipment and using foul language and talking loudly about sex etc etc. If I'd been on my own with the baby I'd have gone home but we went in, minded our own business and played on the one thing they weren't using.

All was fine until they started making rude comments to us and repeating what I was saying to my daughter. I admit, to my chagrin, I told them they were idiots. One of them actually threw something at my daughter (it didn't hit). We left the park, my little girl crying because she didn't want to leave. My husband saw another one of them go to throw something else and told him to try it. His friends jeered him on, but thank heavens he didn't throw it. Why should I have to avoid the park or listen to their crap? I'm too old to be pushed around. I know I should just have ignored it and walked away - I'm supposed to be the adult! Now I'm going to havevto fond another park...

OP posts:

3littlefrogs · 20/03/2011 22:19

You should have called the police.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow · 20/03/2011 22:22

yep, just call the police we do it all the time round here and they come and the teenagers scarper as soon as they see the patrol car!

Also, when you've got more time, have a word with your community support officer and/or local mp and newspaper, make a bit of a fuss and noise about the anti-social behaviour and the police will have to monitor the area a bit more. Its the only way really.

rosie1979 · 20/03/2011 22:22

OMG, thats horrible.

In our local park one Friday afternoon I had a similar situation, not personal remarks to us but lots of swearing and one boy got on a rocking motorbike and was trying to break it, I lost my temper and shouted at him, but to be fair he looked embaressed and stopped.

Little f-ers throwing stuff! Do you know what school they go to? If so I would telephone and make a complaint.

bringonthegoat · 20/03/2011 22:26

Why do you think you should have ignored it!?!

I called out some kids on sex talk when I was with DD and they apologised. Appreciate your situ was much worse but ignore it - no way. I would have called the police. As for throwing something at your DD - I would have wanted to rip their fucking heads off - utter shits! Next time - call the police - they could really hurt someone else's baby next time - fuckers!!

NoWayNoHow · 20/03/2011 22:28

jocar I second those saying you should call the police next time.

We used to have the same problem where we used to live (Tesco Express opposite became the new hang out for every rude, violent teenager in the neighbourhood). I called the police a couple of times, and emailed details of what kind of incidents I'd encountered to the Safer Neighbourhoods team, and this evidence combined with other residents' complaints enabled them to get a dispersal order for the area. Basically, any time 2 or more "youths" gathered, they would be shipped off by PCSO's or police, and if they resisted, they were arrested.

AgentZigzag · 20/03/2011 22:32

The reason to ignore it bringonthegoat is that the OP had her daughter with her.

If there'd been just her and her DH, the smallish risk they'd have kicked off at her harder would have been worth perhaps taking to say something.

But you don't want to take that risk, however small, when you have a child with you.

LDNmummy · 20/03/2011 22:46

Can I just ask where you live, what city or area?

upyourdiva · 20/03/2011 22:52

YANBU

I was on the bus the other day with my 4YO and a bunch of shool kids came up the back and sat around us shouting and swearing and at one point one boy who was in first year (11 or 12YO) answered his mobile to his mum 'she better have his fucking dinner ready or he would fucking rape her right up the shit pipe'

I asked them if they could speak quieter or just not swear as my DS was listening, to which the young boy replied 'well I'm sure he's old enough to fucking walk if you don't like it you fat cow', I wanted to slap the little shit and was about to lose my temper but one of the older boys told him to shut his face unless he wanted a kicking when he got off the bus :o

I don't normally condone bullying but...

Phone the police or cotact community officers and report that there are issues int he area and they may well start a patrol up.

MaisyMooCow · 21/03/2011 00:06

OMG upyourdiva that is one of the worst things I have heard, I can't believe a kid can come out with that kind of filth.

ExeterisEasy · 21/03/2011 00:11

We have similar problems in the park near us, i wont stand for it. I admit i am pretty intimidated and to be honest pretty scared as they are in big groups but i call the local council who patrol the park and they usually send out a PCSO and i also report it to police and inform DD's school. Most of them are just mouthy gob teenagers who are in sharp need of a slap (ooh how un PC) but i wont have it that a park designated for little kiddies is ruined by gob shite teenage aholes.

MadamDeathstare · 21/03/2011 00:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bringonthegoat · 21/03/2011 13:52

I am genuinely shocked by that boys comment upyourdiva.

I wonder where children are getting this language and these attitudes. I am in no way victorian but I really think we need a radical change in how we raise and discipline children.

Mind you when songs on the radio are all fuck this, shit that, music videos are soft porn, parents swear at their DC and TV ads for KFC are sexualised - there doesn't seem much hope!

Original poster

jocar2007 · 21/03/2011 14:08

thanks everyone. I've now reported their anti social behaviour to the council so we'll see what happens. I just wasn't sure if I was over reacting!

OP posts:

bringonthegoat · 21/03/2011 14:10

Hell no - well done

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 21/03/2011 14:12

Absolutely awful. How frightening for you all. :(

One thing... I think it's safer to call the police than confront these types of people. They have no respect for anybody and no parameters of decent behaviour. The ones today weren't violent, just abusive, the next ones might be worse.

It's awful when you can't go anywhere in peace without threat of abuse.

DaisyDaresYOU · 21/03/2011 14:39

I wouldn't answer them back.I made that mistake a few years and was followed home by 17of them and they was spoiling for a fight.I'm glad I didn't have dcs then.

DaisyDaresYOU · 21/03/2011 14:49

And yes I started to run and cry and there was 2more waiting for me the other side.It's only because it was an ex bf that they didn't do anything.But yes my point is never answer them back.They have no respect for anyone

idontlikemondays · 21/03/2011 14:54

I once got my mobile phone out and told annoying school age kids I'd take their photo and email it to all the local schools, it seemed to have the desired effect. I guess that won't work with teenagers though... and I'd be wary of confronting them...

Maybe call the 101 non emergency police number, though I think only a few places currently have it. Might be worth looking up your local police non emergency number in case you need it in the future? At least then you can report them easily then.

goingroundthebend4 · 21/03/2011 14:58

im suprised i called a bunch of teenagers on their language at train station other day when had Ds with me and they had grace to apolgise

Abcinthia · 21/03/2011 14:58

Yanbu that sounds terrible. I think you did the right thing to notify the council and I agree with the others that say to notify the local paper.

CheerfulYank · 21/03/2011 15:11

I don't much believe in smacking upyourdiva, but if my DS ever dared to spout such crap to me on the phone...

YANBU OP! I have had to have sharp words with the teens at my park too, and I guarantee I'd have my cell out phoning the police if I were in your situation.

We're getting playground equipment in our backyard this summer for this very reason, which is a shame as the park is only a few blocks away.

feeblephoebe · 21/03/2011 16:50

most kids do apologise i find and tone it down when asked

Ripeberry · 21/03/2011 17:19

Get that kind of thing at the end of my street. Only one exit out and we have to go past the 'nutters' house.
Basically the teenagers all hang around a giant trampoline in the front garden and jeer at anyone who comes in or out of the estate.
The parents are too scared of their kids to tell the others to get lost.
I would love to have a walk in the evening, but can't due to these '%**#! spoling it

I'm not scared of them, but scared of what I'll do or say to them as I can't stand kids who think they can be disrespectful to adults and anyway, I would be the one with a criminal record if they decided to 'have a go'

Flip