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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to call 101 about loitering teenagers?

41 replies

K8eee · 30/05/2013 21:09

So for the past half an hour I can hear and see some teenagers loitering at the end of our road. A kid on a moped keeps riding back and forth which is noisy and to be honest they're pissing me off already and it's not even dark or that late. We have my 6 year old dss staying with us too, who obviously will be in bed soon, but they're so god damn noisy!

OP posts:
Fakebook · 30/05/2013 21:12

It's only been half an hour. Give it another hour. I doubt they'll stay any longer.

MadamFolly · 30/05/2013 21:12

So the frig what, who are they hurting?

Stop clutching your pearls and keep your beak out.

HollyBerryBush · 30/05/2013 21:14

You could try speaking to them, teenagers aren't alien. Provided you don't storm out in a foul mood, a quiet "lads, trying to get my baby to sleep, would you mind going round the corner" will work wonders.

AMumInScotland · 30/05/2013 21:14

The trouble with being a teenager is that there are very few places where they can go. If they are still there and noisy when DSS needs to get to sleep, maybe you could pop out and have a polite word? There is no law against "hanging around on a sunny evening".

landofsoapandglory · 30/05/2013 21:15

It depends on what they are doing. If all they are doing is standing there chatting, then YABU they aren't doing any harm. If they are there shouting, swearing, vandalising and causing a nuisance then YANBU.

Teens get a bad press when most of the time they are doing nothing wrong.

Salmotrutta · 30/05/2013 21:16

If they aren't vandalising things, fighting or terrorising folk I don't see what they are doing that's so bad?

Perhaps you'd like a curfew for them OP?

Loitering is only a problem if its with intent to do something naughty.

Salmotrutta · 30/05/2013 21:17

I have no idea why I used "naughty" Confused

Original poster
K8eee · 30/05/2013 21:18

Well they are swearing, and shouting, otherwise I wouldn't of been bothered by them just chatting. I can understand that they have no where else to go, and its not a sunny evening where I am. I haven't lived here long, so have no idea on the front of what ASBO is like apart from looking on the police website.

OP posts:
SirBoobAlot · 30/05/2013 21:19

They're doing nothing wrong.

Either ask them nicely, "Lads, I'm trying to get my little one to sleep here, would you mind keeping it down for a bit, please?" or stop complaining.

101 for a group of bored kids with nowhere to hang out? Really?

MalcolmTuckersMum · 30/05/2013 21:19

They're teenagers and so the very idea that someone might be doing something that requires a bit of peace and quiet will be utterly alien to them! I'd do as holly suggests unless they're very intimidating? Even then I'd probably have a go. Speak to them nicely. Maybe even too nicely and embarass them a little [evil] and they'll move on. Don't criminalise them just yet anyway.

Original poster
K8eee · 30/05/2013 21:21

I guess I don't understand why they want to hang about a street corner as I never loitered as a teenager. Grin

OP posts:
TigOldBitties · 30/05/2013 21:25

YABU, they probably have nothing else to do and just want to hang out. As you said its hardly dark, not that late. You're just being grumpy Grin Being firm but pleasant will normally do the job if you do speak to them but I think its a bit unnecessary.

Don't call 101, they may then send the police round to move them on and I don't think its fair. I would feel Sad if someone did that to my DS just for hanging about and being a bit noisy.

edam · 30/05/2013 21:28

Do go out and ask them nicely to keep it down. They may well surprise you by being lovely!

HollyBerryBush · 30/05/2013 21:32

I come from the perspective of living opposite a park..

It used to be hell on earth of an early evening. 40 odd teenagers, milling, very intimidating. I'd say "lads, you know, you're really making the old folk's uncomfortable, move over the road onto the seats" whereas the bloke next door used to go roaring out in a state of absolute apoplexy screaming and swearing at them, a lovely shade of puce, with throbbing temples, forever calling the police, so he unfortunately turned into a bit of a baiting game for them.

Ask any one anything and they will generally do as you ask.

TinBox · 30/05/2013 21:40

Loitering? By that do you mean...existing?

ladytinkerbelly · 30/05/2013 21:53

My son has been on the receiving end of people calling 101 for just hanging around - its not nice. Just ask them politely to move on or be quiet and I'm sure they will 😄

SuburbanRhonda · 30/05/2013 22:27

If you never "loitered" as a teenager, OP, I can see why you would find it alien.

You might be in for a bit of a shock when your DCs grow up Wink

MadameDefarge · 30/05/2013 22:39

There is hanging out and there is being anti social. Swearing and repeated showing off on mopeds counts as anti-social. I would myself go out and try to jolly them away. But if they are aggressive I would not hesitate to call the police.

Original poster
K8eee · 30/05/2013 23:08

Luckily they moved on quite swiftly, but the swearing and roaring of the bike was putting me off approaching them. Dh was still at work and I didn't want to leave dss in the house on his own. I was very wary as to whether they had a weapon tooSad you never know with kids these days!

OP posts:
Alisvolatpropiis · 30/05/2013 23:11

A weapon? Where do you live OP?

They're probably teens of that awkward age where they're allowed to stay out late but really are too young to go to the pub etc.

Original poster
K8eee · 30/05/2013 23:13

It's not where you live these days though is it?

Yeah I can understand that it must be difficult for them to know what to do, but maybe get a job for the evening/half term. That's what I did at their age!

OP posts:
MadameDefarge · 30/05/2013 23:17

I do get what K8eee is saying. Living in whatever environment you never know what is going on with them. Sadly knife and gun crime is very prevalent in young kids now.

HorraceTheOtter · 30/05/2013 23:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MadameDefarge · 30/05/2013 23:33

In some circumstances I am much more afraid of the young teens who have been groomed by adults in anti social behaviour for commercial gain (ie running drugs) and who are too young/stupid/bereft to understand what is happening to them. the 14 year old charged with delivering a gun as an initiation rite is much more dangerous than a 20 year old.

TigOldBitties · 30/05/2013 23:39

I live on the line between the two highest knife crime boroughs in the UK.

  1. I would still approach them
  1. I find that a very bizarre statement, teens with knives/weapons hanging about aren't generally in the business of attacking random women just for having a polite chat with them. They're obviously short-sighted but they aren't that dim.