Verbally abused in street, what would you do?

[Runwiththewolves10]

I work as a community carer and was followed this afternoon by 2 teenage boys on bikes who looked around 14/15. They started hurling abuse at me for no reason and tried to run into me with their bikes, called me a sket, dirty slag, ugly, said I had no rights as a woman etc.
I’m embarrassed but I told them to F off, to not speak to me like that, get out of my sight or I’ll report them. They kept on doing it until I could retreat into the nearest shop.

I’m out here until 10pm, I’m a little afraid of seeing them again. I’m in a residential area tonight with not many shops around and I feel a little anxious about seeing them again, given there were 2 of them and they were on bikes.
Is there anything I could do?

I would call 111. Let them know what happened, they might if they have capacity send a police car for a bit of a drive about the area. Not a lot else you can do maybe invest in a rape alarm if you are often alone on the streets after dark.

Definitely report it. There may be several reports and the police might send a patrol car around.

Thank you that’s a good idea. I’m out until 10pm most nights so an alarm may be a good idea as it’s vetting darker, planning to get a bike tooz

The PP has a typo and it’s 101 but I totally agree you should call them and emphasise it wasn’t just verbal abuse, they were attempting to cause you physical harm and it continued until you could get to safety.

I’m so sorry it happened to you! What utter shits.

Report to your employer and the police. The community is your workplace so for me this is something to Report definitely.

Sorry yes 101 is the number you need.

Yes, report to police and to your employer, you should not be having to deal with that.

And if you experience the same later, ring them there and then too if they're threatening/riding bikes at you.
Not on and needs addressing.

Finished too soon, so for me it's aggression at work.

Thank you for all the support, I will make sure it’s reported.

Photos / videos of their faces, too - if police won't do anything, nip round the local schools and see who recognises them.

This is misogynistic abuse and a hate crime. Little Incels in the making, inspired and emboldened by the Plymouth shooter. Definitely report to the police.

I second the misogyny point - you are being targeted because you are a woman. It should be (but isn't) a hate crime - although the police might be a bit more interested following the horrific misogynist murders in Plymouth.

@penguinwithasuitcase

Photos / videos of their faces, too - if police won't do anything, nip round the local schools and see who recognises them.

OP I am sorry that this happened to you and it must have been frightening.

However, the above suggestion is ludicrous. Quite apart from the fact that it is the summer holidays in many places so the schools will be closed, it would be shocking for the school staff or the parents of people in those schools to give out details to a random stranger who has a photo on their phone.

I know that in this scenario you aren't OP, and please don't think I am insinuating otherwise, but for example what if the person showing the photo was a stalker trying to locate an ex or a parent trying to track down their estranged child?

In those situations, would it be OK to expect someone to say "Oh yes, that's XXX from number 48.

'said I had no rights as a woman'

Wow. Kids said that This is really happening.

Yeah it was disgusting what they said especially re the women have no rights, I was in shock.

Filming on your phone isn't a bad idea, it's amazing how fast they run off if you threaten them with video. Also, it's useful for the police for identification. But don't take to the school.

Photos and video of them, then post it on local facebook either village page/selling page etc and say what these little scrotes are doing to women out alone and are their parents proud of their behaviour.

Report to 101 but if it happens again, photograph them and call 999
Tell the operator you are being verbally and physically assaulted

That's awful OP. Must have been quite frightening.

Second pp - report to police and your employer.

As for women having no rights - that's so scary.

@Runwiththewolves10

Yeah it was disgusting what they said especially re the women have no rights, I was in shock.

Well I'm pretty much any other situation you could report this as a hate crime.

Unfortunately misogynistic abuse is not classed as a hate crime

I wouldn’t get my phone out in front of little dickheads like that

@KidneyBeans

Unfortunately misogynistic abuse is not classed as a hate crime

Indeed which is why it is important for this crime to be reported and for women to keep on reporting all incidents like this until it is. I think what has happened to OP is one example of a sinister movement just bubbling beneath the surface of our ‘civil’ society. I think these men/boys are going to become more bold and the incel movement will become more mainstream and legitimate. They want to create fear in women. We mustn’t let them!

@myotherusernameistaken that's not what I was suggesting at all.

"I've been harassed by these kids of school age, and if they're students of yours i think it's important that you and other adults in their lives are aware of it."

It's not complicated.

Rather than getting your mobile out, you could get a small body cam such as motorcyclists wear to record incidents - they can be unobtrusive and are inexpensive, and the aggressors won't be aware and potentially angered as they could be if they saw you filming.

@Runwiththewolves10

Did you encounter any more problems later on?