For my DS 12 should to be able to use the local park as a short cut without being mugged

[christywhisty]

2 weeks ago DS coming home from the station on his bike through the park when a boy from a another school stopped him , went through his pockets and threatened to punch. Next morning same boy and boy 2 from yet another school set chase to him and knocked him off his bike.
Reported to the police but they say not enough description to get boys. However I have seen 2 boys hanging round the park every night matching their description.
Tonight Ds uses another route through the park but they got him again, punched him and tried to damage his bike. Hopefully this may be on cctv camera.
Spoke to the park police and they are going to mount a few patrols round there, but I can't speak to the policeman involved with the case until tomorrow.

God! Poor ds ... poor you!

It seems like you're doing all the right things. Be persistent and don't let it drop. Unless concerned parents intervene, these kids will end up doing worse.

So, these kids don't know your ds then, beyond that he's an easy target on a bike?

My kids (13 and 11 at the time) were assaulted in very similar circumstances last year. The police were just as phlegmatic as your force. Told us that even though my son was punched in the head, they couldn't do anything unless we had a hair colour for one of them. Hair colour! For pete's sake- they were wearing caps, and god, that's the last thing you think of when you're being punched: "I really must remember his hair colour!".

My concerns were identical to yours- eventually these boys weill end up doing worse. It is pure crisis management that governs alomost every aspect of the way our country is run, sadly.

I hope your poor son is getting over his shock. My two are fine now.

You shouldn't have to do this, but is there any way that you & another adult could follow DS at a distance, with camera ready if they pounced again ?

Feel free to dismiss that as a stupid suggestion if you wish and I understand totally you might not want to do that - also understand that DS might not want to run the gammut again either. Was just thinking of how these boys might be identified.

It doesn't bear thinking about how a 12 year old would feel about being attacked like this. You must be feeling murderous.

This is what I said back then

crap isn't it. my ds(14) got hit in the park a couple of years ago. no one could do anything.

we are meant to be getting park rangers soon, though i doubt they'll have much power.

maybe you could contact local schools and tell them what happened?

Christy - have just seen you live in Herts, as I do. Do you mind me asking which park it was ? (but understand if you don't want to answer that)

catmother- you are right. Back in March, I was ready to trawl the streets of Exeter with a camera and my kids in tow until I found the little bastards and snapped them (with the camera, obviously...) but they were unwilling, and life just goes on. I am still furious at the police's (lack of) response though.

Thanks for the replies , glad your boys are okay Duchesse.

Catsmother - the park is Grundy Park

I have spoken to my neighbour who is a teacher at the school the first boy goes to. He has given me a lot of advice on who to contact at that school and what tact to take. He will also have a word with the head of lower school for me.
My sister also works in a secondary school and said that we should be able to go in and look at the photos on the school records to identify the boy.

I did got out last week with DH's camera which is a digital slr with a big lens, but I couldn't get close enough to them without them noticing me. I have been told this evening that photographing them may not be legal.

Sorry, but how ironic it may not be legal to take a photo of a thug, but the police won't do anything about a "real" crime.

I hope you son's ok, and that the school do something about it.

Update

We have been into the school and identified the boy. There was a police officer there and it is pretty obvious this boy is well known, and they know who his friend is.