This might be swayed by the areas I've have lived in and where I live in the country. But definitely from secondary school age to me children just playing out on the streets are up to no good.
My experience of primary school was that playing out was just nice playing. But straight away from secondary there was a big shift. A lot of underage drinking/drugs/sex/stealing. I didn't do most of that myself but I was hanging around with friends who did. My DH had a much stricter upbringing he was only to go out with friends if he was actually going somewhere like the cinemas. He would also get dropped off and picked up etc. Being out and about on the streets was a big no. Whereas I was rooming the streets and underage drinking. I think my parents assumed I was just hanging with friends and it was normal.
Now in my local area we have a number of different groups of children in the area aged between about 10-16. There is constant comments on our local Facebook group about what they are getting up to and asking parents to go and find their children. Every time I see them they are swearing, drinking, fighting etc.
I suppose the reason I am asking AIBU Is I often read from people on here and in general life that it's such a shame children don't play out anymore. Was others experience different? For context I am from the North West and whilst my area it's not a terrible place to live. I sometimes wonder if where I live makes my view point different to other from nicer areas of the country.