To tell off teenagers in a shopping centre?

[Whatamidoinhere]

I'm a bit shaken so excuse me if I seem like I'm rambling. I was in a shopping centre this morning with my 2 year old. Saw a group of loud kids, no big deal. There were 6 of them. 3 of them looked about 14 years old, 1 looked a bit younger and 2 of them much younger I'd say 8/9 years old. One of the older ones kept smacking the youngest on his head multiple times really hard you could year it from a far. People walking around seemed shocked as well. The younger one was crying. The older one caught him from behind his back and kept smacking his head/slapping his face while the rest of the teenagers were laughing. I was in utter shock, and my fight or flight kicked in. I went to the one who was hitting and yelled "stop, stop, don't you ever hit anyone like that ever again". He came and stood up very close to my face it was intimidating, but I stood still and looked him in the eye because I didn't want him to feel my fear. He kept shouting in my face "f off who do you think you are" and a myriad of mouth fulls before they all stormed off laughing and swearing at me. I'm Muslim and wear the hijab so they didn't miss the chance to make fun of it as well. The small one who was being hit walked with them as if nothing happened. The thing is the shopping centre was full of people walking by and everyone seemed to be watching without a word. I'm feeling shook and humiliated. AIBU?

No of course not. I think it was very brave of you to square up to them and I wish other people had supported you. Poor little kid. How awful.

Maybe the police attending or security should have been called.

Good for you for saying something. Hopefully the little kid will remember as he grows up that someone cared enough for him to do that.

Well done for standing up for the young boy, especially when no one else helped.
I wonder if you should still report to police as the older boy committed an assault on the younger, and it could also be a safeguarding concern.
The shopping centre may have cctv that the police could see.

Good for you!

I think you did the right thing!

Yanbu, at all. You are fearless

Well done op what a lovely person you are.

THIS

This. I remember the horrific story of James Bulger.

Well done OP, I'm the same type of person and have done similar when instincts kick in. It makes me physically upset to see things like this ❤

Good for you!!!

I did similar in a park during lockdown. A group of young teens were purposefully kicking a ball into the park to try and hit people and/or be a pain. They were all laughing. It hit a younger girl in the back of the head. I checked if she was ok. I was heavily pregnant. It then came very close to my thrrr year olds head. My husband told me not to do anything because I was heavily pregnant and we had three young children with us and to be honest it’s a rough area. But my hormones kicked in and I gave the group an assertive talking to. Two kids apologised (not the ring leaders) but those that were ring leading were not bothered…I didn’t get the same response as you though luckily (that sounds awful). walking back to the car my husband had said that I hadn’t been very clever doing that as he was worried one of them might have kicked me in the stomach….(I don’t think that would have happened from this particular crowd). My eldest daughter however said I was her hero. She couldn’t believe I had assertively told off a group of about ten kids and as a result actually I did see her stand up for herself a little bit more in situations where previously she might not have done…

Good for you x

I applaud you.

I don’t know why you feel humiliated you should feel like a champion. Call the police and report that child is being abused in plain sight. It’s a school day so they are either truanting or home educated, either way at risk. I think you should always stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

Well done OP. I would like to think I would do the same. I have told teenagers off/given them a quick chat before e.g. if they're swearing and there are small kids around.

I'd have called the police and let them handle it, in this situation you don't know if they are carrying a knife, but you do know that they are prepared to use violence.

I mean, you did the right thing but also a very dangerous thing for yourself.

You should be feeling proud, not humiliated OP. I think you're a queen 👑

Yes, report to police, please, so they can watch the CCTV footage- may well be a county lines issue.

You did an excellent thing and the other people who walked past should be ashamed

I applaud you too, OP.

You did the right thing. I agree with speaking to the police - especially with the associated racism too.

I don't suppose they were in school uniform?

Well done, that sounds horrible and plenty of people would walk past that xx

Thank you so much for everyone who replied. I wasn't sure about calling the police but I think I will. No, they were not in school uniform. They also waited for me outside the gate and I had to go back in and wait until they walked off. The whole situation just felt horrible.

You did the right thing. Many years ago I was driving and a teenager was throwing stones at passing cars...one hit mine. I got out and shouted at him. He looked petrified and apologised! The teen you told off was probably actually embarrassed at being told off hence his reaction and trying to save face in front of the group. Hopefully you have made him think.