AIBU to expect my DS(13) to be able to go into a chip shop without being threatened?

[vickyw11]

My 13 year old son has been to watch an in-line skating competition in Ladbroke Grove with his friends today. Three of them entered and two were there watching and my son was filming it. He knew it would go on a little later than he is normally out and we agreed that he would text me and let me know when he was leaving.

When they came out of the skatepark, his friends wanted to get some chips and they went into the chip shop near the skatepark. There was an older teenager in then and he called one of DS's friends over and demanded his money. He said he had just spent the last of it on food and the older kid told him to take it back and get a refund so he could give him the money. Obviously, he refused and the older kid then went outside. He waited for them to leave and while he was waiting obviously BBM or texted his friends 'cos when they walked to the station there were a group of about 15 kids following them. They ran to the station and got on a tube home quickly. I just annoyed that day has been marred by nasty, vicious kids who obviously have got nothing better to do!!

YANBU at all, but sadly it is the sign of the times, and the sort of behaviour that you get all over the place now. SOME kids are just feral, bullying scum who think they are untouchable and can do what they like to who they like, because there are no consequences.

Hope your son and his friends are ok, it is sad that that decent kids have to go through this at the hands of feral scum

OMG you'd think your DCs are safe in a group.
But what chance do they stand with odds of 15 :6 ?

Trouble is, people looking on probably wouldn't intervene. Safest thing is for them to get out of there fast.

Hope your DS is okay and it doesn't put him off going out and about.
I've got a 12 yo and this kind of this really freaks me out .

Fabby where were you in Essex?

I live in Romford. I'm scarily aware what's going on out there.

We live in the suburbs and I've told him he now has to home before it's dark. Him and his friends stayed late to watch the pro-skaters comp. I think next time they go they should come straight home and not hang about. Him and his friends are all pretty street wise and I think that running was the best option.

Again, sadly the time of day doesnt seem to make a lot of difference either.

I think instead of women protesting to "reclaim the night", we should be protesting to enable our kids to be able to go out safely and without the very real risk of being assaulted, mugged, and bullied by the scum that seem to think they own our streets.

The way it is now, the decent kids do stay in, because it isnt safe to be out.

We need more police on the streets, and proper punishment, not cautions and sympathy for offenders, from the first offence.

Seriously they do it during the day, nothing to do with it being dark.

My sons friends were on a bus in the afternoon and got threatened with knives for their mobiles and cash.

I hadn't thought about it being just as dangerous during the day but I think your right fabby, doesn't seem to make any difference. What can we do? We can't keep them indoors glued to X-boxs etc and they are out enjoying a hobby - not hanging around looking for trouble.

Running was the best option, these gangs operate on pack mentality and often it ends with serious consequences before the Police can even get there. My nieces boyfriend was mugged and stabbed (narrowly missed his heart, he had a collapsed lung) only the other day by a gang of youths.

I wouldn't go out late in Ladbroke Grove as a Londoner, even in a group. As a young person you are more likely the target as they can more easily intimidate you and no one will step in for fear of reprisals.

Fabby is right though they do it in the day too, particularly on the top decks of buses.

:( thank goodness they got away. about what is going on in the streets.

Well, whenever I complain about lack of discipline in school all the teachers flame me. Discipline starts at home and needs to be reinforced in school. Where it doesn't start at home, it needs to start at school. Where young people are uncontrollable there needs to be greater access to pupil referral units, and what used to be called reform schools and borstal. There have to be significant consequences.

We had to move our dd from a London Comp that used to have the best reputation in South West London last year and where parents clamoured to send their children. Thank goodness we had the money to do so. The school had been taken over by inclusion policies at the expense of the majority. No consequences, no behaviour management, anarchy waiting to happen. And it has - so glad we could escape but what of those nice, conscientious girls who are still there?

Fabby - what do you mean with your 'no guesses' comment?

And MarriedWreath - what do you mean "taken over by inclusion policies "?

vicky - very sorry your son had such a horrible experience. He did the best thing by running. The only other alternative would have been for them to have gone back into the chip shop pretending to take up the ridiculous suggestion that they get a refund on the chips, and talk to the chip shop staff. Who may well have turned them straight back out not wanting to take any risk of an incident in the shop. Even adults can't be relied on these days .

Sadly mugging like this is all too common, but thankfully most young people are actually kind, helpful and good.

YANBU.

Your DS sounds like a sensible and level-headed person who did well in a nasty situation.

I think you'll find that most of these appalling incidents with violence and weapons are taking place outside the school environment, marriedandwreathedinholly. Which is when the teenagers are not directly under adult supervision, by teachers or anyone else.
I'm pleased your DS and his friends were unharmed OP, but certain areas, especially in the cities, seem to be getting more feral over the years. I don't know what the answer is either.

Thanks for all your replies. DS and his friends are all fine. It won't put him off going out. His friends have all agreed that they should come straight home when going to that particular skatepark. It appears they make a slight detour to go this chip shop and get the tube from a different station. I just want to keep him glued to my side until his 25!