AIBU to be frustrated at what I've just witnessed?

[Mumthedogsbeensick]

I was driving through a housing estate today and stopped at traffic lights behind a police car. While we were waiting a motorbike with two young lads on and not wearing helmets drove past the police car and gave them the finger. The police car remained at the lights until they changed and then we continued down the road. The lads on the motorbike appeared again driving along the path and then pulled in front of the police car swerving from side to side again giving them the finger and generally goading them. I understand it's not safe to give chase to motorbikes but I was so angry and frustrated that they just got away with it. Ds 13 was in the car with me and was so shocked that these boys could basically do what the hell they wanted to do. I actually wanted to overtake the police car and push the little bastards off the bike I was that mad. AIBU to feel so bloody angry about it?

They would have had it on their dash cam, would have phoned in their reg no and probably had a car waiting further up for them.

misshelenaBut what is it you think they should be doing when force procedures don't allow for pursuits in these circumstances?

Why are people assuming that the choice is between doing nothing v chase or arrest? I think there are many many options in between.

Imperial I hope so.

Nick please see my post to featherup.

Like what?! You are complaining they didn't pursue them. What other options are there to stop them that DONT involve a pursuit?

These boys are not going to be scared by some tough talk! You and I might be embarrassed / scared by being told off by a cop but anyone giving a cop car the bird and trying to goad them into chasing them won't care about a telling off. I am quite sure this went on file and they will get their come-upance (such as the law would allow) later. The police know their local yobos!

I agree, but sadly they know that some kids are already too far gone the kids (and their parents) know the rules inside and out and know how far they can push it. We probably all know places local to us that are a bit 'no go' especially at certain times of day, it's not right but I don't think that the police have the resources to create the ideal situation a lot of the time.

I would explain to your son that these kids are likely living with disadvantages he can't imagine. It might look like two young people having fun, getting away with anything they like, but the reality is that this behaviour is probably born of frustration, poverty and a sense of hopelessness.

I never understand how the UK faffs around sometimes.

Caught using a mobile driving ? Confiscate the phone (personally I'd take the car, but too many people with sin to ever have that happen).

Careless, reckless, dangerous riding (as here) ? Confiscate the bike. Job done. On the spot. You know, like we do for cars suspected of being uninsured.

As has been stated, these kids are without doubt known to the police and their actions will have been noted. I personally would have been relieved that those particular police officers didn't rise to the bait. Car chases are dangerous and it's what the kids were angling for.

I totally understand that the police can't chase them and the little scroats know that but I just feel so angry that they got away with it. Just the other week on the same estate a boy stole his brothers bike and crashed into a car and ended up with a broken back. I really don't know what the answer is.
www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/teen-biker-warns-friends-stop-271342

I'm sure I read somewhere that the police aren't allowed to chase motorcyclists who are not wearing safety helmets.

Let's be honest, what sort of reaction would you expect if the police did chase them which resulted in one or more of the youths being injured or worse? That's why they don't chase them.

Glad you managed to start your thread by pointing out it was a housing estate OP.

Can't say i would have sympathy.
We have these idiots doing this by us, they've riden on the pavements nearly into people, they don't care and know the police can't stop them.

Crunchymum I live in a council house on a housing estate. What's your point?

A housing estate (or sometimes housing complex) is a group of homes and other buildings built together as a single development. The exact form may vary from country to country. Accordingly, a housing estate is usually built by a single contractor, with only a few styles of house or building design, so they tend to be uniform in appearance. In the British Isles, the term is quite broad, and can include anything from high rise government-subsidised housing, right through to more upmarket, developer-led suburban tract housing.

You are not unreasonable to be frustrated, it is a frustrating situation for the officers too, I am sure.

There are more and more young men driving around on pavements and roads with no helmet on around here, sometimes being a pain in the backside and sometimes mugging people. They know that without a helmet they won't be chased, I have no idea how many are caught after.

We either have to accept this happening though or we have to allow the police to chase and accept that the result of that will be some of these young people being injured and killed. Society has to decide what it would prefer.

YANBU I would report the police car to the police station. Those policemen were not doing their jobs. Clearly the police dept need to recruit better and train better.

How can you say they weren't doing their jobs properly. They aren't allowed to start a pursuit with the bikers so that's not an option. They'll have their reg nos so will pursue it that way. You don't know that they didn't head straight for the bikers home addresses and deal with it. You gave no idea what they did next

They're exceptionally well trained the fact they didn't allow the idiots to wind them up shows that.

But yeah go ahead and report them when you know nothing about force procedures or what happened next.

As the daughter of a traffic cop I can tell you that the police officers in that car are far more frustrated than you are that they couldn't do anything. If they had given chase, driven up along side them and shouted or done anything to interact whilst they were riding without helmets they would have lost their jobs. If the lads had fallen due to being distracted or just the idiots that they are. The officers can then face jail time. Yep. Not that uncommon either it does happen it's not abstract.

So the issue is not with the bobbies in the car but with the ones that make the rules.

But yes we have idiots like that round us so trust me I totally understand the frustration. They will have been clocked, filmed with dashcams and trust me the officers will do everything they can to get them later when "safe and legal" to do so.

Also to those saying ring the station, complain and ask what they are going to do about it, seriously? As if they don't have enough to deal with at the minute.

I totally understand that the police can't chase them and the little scroats know that but I just feel so angry that they got away with it.

How do you know they got away with it just because you didn't see immediate action?

Dumbledore called it right.

Report that the policemen were not doing their job and allowing those guys to continue their joyride, putting others in danger. But, if as you speculate, they knew who those guys were and are getting them later, OP will be told and can then feel better. Win-win.

Are you on glue? What happens when the kids fall off and are injured?

Some years back, two young lads were chased by police into an electric storage facility the ones you see on the street,that are behind a locked gate with warning signs. Iirc, both were killed, nothing to do with the (French) police who hadn't caught up to them. The riots that ensued were appalling. I don't think it was even reported on British news. This is not a situation we want here.

I hope so dumbledore345

The Police are very used to people giving them the finger. Those young people are putting themselves at risk. If they know them, they might do something but I doubt they care too much.

Fair point 5foot5 I don't know that they got away with it it just seemed that way at the time. They were both wearing hoodies so I just assumed identification would prove difficult. I'm hoping Dumbledore is right. Like I said in my OP I do understand the police cannot chase them I just hated the fact the little shits could be so blasé about it knowing sod all could be done.