DH and DD(7) went for a cycle yesterday along a cycle track that runs all the way into our local city centre. It's safe (or so we thought), runs alongside a river for a few miles so is a pretty run and passes a lovely coffee shop half way through. Perfect for my eager DD cyclist.
3 miles into the run, my DH and DD were surrounded by a gang of youngsters who tried to intimidate them into surrendering their bikes. There was glass spread across the whole track and DH slowed to a halt to lift the bikes over and it was then that these kids appeared from behind pillars of a bridge. DH said that he counted approx 12 of them, ranging from about 6 years of age to 14 years of age. DH had picked up both bikes at the same time and told DD to stay close and walked the 3 metres or so over the glass. One of the older lads barged into DH but he kept walking, but all the while starting to feel real anxiety because DD was with him.
He urged her to get on her bike and gave her a shove to start her off quickly but heard some of the kids say "push her off, get the bike". He gave them an earful but they laughed at him, told him to "f*ck off" and that they all had "iron bars to batter him with". Some lads had started to jog after my DD so he flew after her but they all started chasing and throwing stones. One stone caught DD at the back of the head, thumped off her helmet and another stone caught her on her bottom. Big enough to leave a bruise.
They did get away, Thank God, but are really shaken by the whole ordeal. DD who by no means is an easy crier, sobbing and white as a sheet. DH telephoned the local police at the coffee shop, police arrived but told DH that the kids were most likely from the gypsie site nearby and were more or less above the law. They admitted that they wouldn't be following it up because it was known amongst the police that gypsie's would find out where they lived, and make their lives a nightmare. DH pointed out that there was glass most likely placed across the path to stop cyclists, and the police officer said that they'd get it swept up, but other than that, no further action would be taken.
I'm so angry about this. My gut instinct was to try and go down to the site and appeal to the Mums of these kids, but DH thinks I'm nuts. I'm not going to, but I'm appalled that these kids are getting away with it. At it's best, the whole situation has really shaken DD up, but at its worst, it could have been terrible. DH is 6ft 5' and the kids had a tough enough pack mentality to take him on.
What can I do, apart from avoid this track like the plague?
MNHQ have commented on this thread
AIBU?
AIBU to feel frustrated? Attempted theft of bikes incident, police not interested.
HexBramble · 22/04/2013 11:59
I think it's a comfortable position to dismiss comments about behaviour by travellers as 'bigoted' because it means you don't have to think about issues anymore and can feel good about yourself as you are sure you are not a 'bigot.'
Yet there are issues and anyone who has had an illegal encampment nearby can tell you about them - we had horses left in a field which was nt secure, horses got out of field and were found wandering busy roads 
I think it's wrong of the police to not attempt to talk to the travellers, get a look at conditions, what the kids are doing etc. Traveller life expectancy is very low, it's a tough life particularly for young women taken out of school to care for siblings, married very young
LunaticFringe, yes, that's the problem. DH is insisting that it's left as it is and be 'thankful' 
, that said, it appears that as a tradesman, he and some of his friends have had some run ins that I knew nothing about, until now. He can only identify 3 of them, they're mostly minors (he thinks) and we know that there is going to be resentment in our assumption that they're Traveller Children (and I'm really sorry to cause offence at this term, but how else can I put it?).
Fact: My DD got hurt and shook up. Yes, it could have been so much worse, but had they been local kids, then I would be pounding pavements and knocking on doors to appeal to their parents. But they aren't local, and my options are limited. Yes, I'm doing the things that have been suggested, but I'm not holding my breathe for any outcome either.
I'm thankful that DD and DH are ok. Frustrated, yes. I'm frustrated to.
The proper term depends on which group we're talking about - are we talking Roma, Sinte, Calo, Calon, Irish Travellers, Scottish Travellers, Romanichal...
The word "gypsy" is a slur that is being reclaimed by some but does not and has never originated from any of the groups above. It was a label given by others to denote foreignness (rooted in the word Egyptian). It's a word and label that has been used to enslave and eradicate several groups' humanity and used as a term to promote genocide. It really shouldn't be used by people outside of these groups trying to reclaim it and its official and media usage is still being protested. Some are trying to reclaim it with pride though most working within and with other communities these days will specify which group (as I listed above) as part of action to help create more human and less homogeneous picture and to stop people within the groups having to use what to many is a painful term because using their actual term is met with a lot of 
. I have a Roma friend who is an academic (yes, one with a proper job, who pays plenty of tax, and is very nice) and the label issue is a problematic, getting recognition and respect almost impossible (even with a practically perfect record, she has many within the academic circles who think a "woman like her" isn't suitable for working).
Putting several groups with slight similarities together, and reducing their humanity and othering them to 'they' do this and 'they' do that is always going to be rooted in bigotry, as is the assumption that if something goes wrong it has to be them because they live close. We've had issues of local kids caught doing something claiming to be from an Irish traveller site to get out of trouble because of these stereotypes that they are above the law, and thankfully have been pulled up on it.
OP - if the police are not taking what happened seriously, go higher up, regardless of who they are or who the police think they are.
Plomino - sorry, only now seeing your post.
I've urged DH to call into see the Duty Inspector on his way home from his job today (he's close by the Central Station working today). I was sorely tempted but since I wasn't there, and DH was, I thought it appropriate for him to call and leave a statement. I imagine if I were to call, they'd only want to speak to DH since he's the only adult witness that was with DD. He really, really doesn't want to push any complaint towards the police officers involved but I feel really strongly that this shouldn't be left.
I've had a couple of emails off this thread urging me to be cautious. I must admit that I'm slightly worried
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