Or is he...?

[skinnydecaff]

My DDs and their friends had a run in with a boy in our street which resulted in one girl getting soaked and my DD2 being hit. He is younger than them so when they came in and told me about it, I just told them to "fight their own battles".

Next thing they came back in and told me that the boy's dad had told them to piss off back to their own end of the street. I wandered up to find out what had happened and asked the guy if he had sworn at the girls.

I couldn't believe it when he pointed to the sleeve of his tee-shirt and drew my attention to the fact that it said POLICE. It was a very passive/aggressive gesture and I felt threatened. He denied saying "piss off" and said it was more than his job was worth.

I am angry on 2 counts - firstly there are 5 girls (12 to 8) saying that he told them to piss off, secondly this was meant to be 2 parents sorting out a squabble and not an interaction between a mum and a copper who was very keen to make me aware of what he does for a job.

AIBU or was he?

seriously angry and threatened by the father's behaviour and attitude

I think maybe that's a tad of an over reaction to someone pointing to their sleeve.

You can buy shirts with "Army" on them, try that next time you want to have a word, and make sure you out-eyeball him.

Would his job seriously be at risk if it was proved he'd told a some children to piss off when off duty?

Bit harsh?

"I am seriously angry and threatened by the father's behaviour and attitude."

Threatened? Really? At a man pointing to his sleeve.

Goodness!

Was it this kind of t-shirt? To be fair, the brand is known as Police 883 but this one is a bit near the knuckle, and I'm sure the older styles were worse!

Doh, fail. Anyway, Police is a fashion brand as well as a job

I'd be pissed off if someone swore at my DC. If I then outside and the individual tried to suggest that wearing a police uniform meant they could do what they liked I think I'd have it out with them then and there. I'd ask what they though pointing at their own shirt was supposed to convey?

I'd have asked him for his badge number.

My dad got into a tiff with a neighbour once who came out with 'I hope you realise that I'm a special constable!'. To which my dad replied 'And I'm Batman, now piss off!'.

is 'piss off' swearing?

Not in my house. In my house 'housework!' is swearing.

It would be nice to know the full facts of the "run in"

In Herts the police wear black polo shirts with 'police' on them, finally did away with the horrendous white button-up things.

Kladdkaka your dad can't be Batman cos I am

I would class it as swearing.

I wouldn't expect a child to say it to me, or be able to say it in a job interview (unless the interview was going very badly ), and I've not yet seen the episode where Nanny Plum tells the wise old elf to piss off, and stop being such an arsey arrogant wanker although I'd like to

Off to bed with laptop to digest all answers - thanks for all opinions, even those I don't agree with.

My point wasn't about what had gone on with the kids so much as the tosser dad's attitude, which was not to deal with the situation as a parent but to try and somehow "pull rank" on me. For what it's worth I think he did tell them to piss off because 5 girls do not individually repeat something verbaitim - it's not just the words, it's the sentence it was in and the empahisis he put on the words.

Thing is that he did deal with the situation as a parent.

he told your DD and her friends to go away. (in whatever terms)

You then went down to him to tell him off.

My question would be what where your DD and friends doing to be told to "piss off"?

Based on the t-shirt, the man is clearly a loon (if he's not a cop) or a twat (if he is a cop). I'd avoid him and his kin at all costs.