to have called the police about a man smoking a spliff in the kids play area?

[CKelpie]

He was getting out of a van as I went to get ds in for dinner and he walked over with two little girls, a little terrier and an almighty spliff hanging out of his mouth.

I told him I couldn't believe he was going in there and smoking, he came marching accross the car park towards me all macho before squaring up to me and having a go at me for saying it was disgusting.

He then stormed off going "Oh, my gosh!" taking the mickey out of the way I speak (I have a southern accent and we live in Lancashire). And it really didn't help that bloody ds then joined in going "Oh my gosh" at me too. Who's side is he on?!

I'm all shakey now and I doubt the bloody police got there in time to see any sign of him.

Thank goodness for motherinferior, that's exactly what I wanted to say, but didn't dare (I lurve ikea though!)

However, the thought of smoking a fag in one of those mock Ikea rooms is quite appealing.

I think the fact that a driver got out of their vehicle using any substance that impairs their driving would worry me, more than them going into the park. I dont think you are being unreasonable to be concerned by his behaviour, however I think calling the police was excessive. Would you have done this if he had not shouted at you.

I DO know that it was a spliff. I smoked the stuff myself way back in the days when jesus walked the earth so I know a spliff when I see/smell one but around children the smoking of anything just isn't acceptable and I stand by the decision to speak to him about it.

Why should I consider myself lucky not to have had my head kicked in for standing up for childrens' welfare? I think that is an outrageous comment.

At least I had a reason to summon the police to the play park, the other afternoon they were up there with a van letting the kids play with their shields and sit in the driver seat. I even heard them sounding the siren.

And you tell me the police have better things to do with their time? Obviously not in rural Lancashire.

I'm calling Lancs CID to come round and take a hair sample.

imo yabu ,he was nt directley harming you or your dc s
im a live and let live sort think it was ott to call police
i live in west yorks and its fairly common for people to smoke in street round here,in certain places even the police dont bat an eyelid

why start an AIBU thread in the first place if you are so convinced your actions were reasonable?

I'm quite surprised at other posters reactions tbh. So you all think its quite ok to smoke dope in a children's playground then? . OP I think you were very brave to challenge him.

I used to work next door to a team of hvs and they often had to challenge parents who were smoking dope with newborn babies in the room on their home visits .

I don't have a problem with people smoking the odd joint or two, even if they have children, so long as they are outside, and their children are inside. Nothing to do with the weed though, that's the tobacco I'd be bothered about. I do object to people smoking anywhere near me though, because I hate the smell (again tobacco rather than weed).

Smoking a joint and driving is obviously dangerous and illegal, and appropriate to report to the police (as driving under the influence). Smoking in a playground? No. Intimidating behaviour? Maybe.

foreverchanges had he been smoking in the street, I would not have commented, had he stayed out in the carpark to smoke I would have let him enjoy in peace.
And tbh had he not been such an agressive twunt I might not have called the police as I would have been able to get my point across without being intimidated by a swearing, shouting thug.

However, he was going into the walled kids play area and I had to say something as DS has quite severe asthma and has been affected by parents smoking there before now.

hf128219 I'm sweating now - do you think they will be able to trace the other substances I experimented with at art college? Oils, Gouache, Watercolours even...

yabu

No yanbu imho. I don't particularly have anything against people getting stoned inside or out. But it is illegeal, and the man got out of a van so it's not unreasonable to assume he'd drive off stoned, which last time I checked was also illegal, and to smoke in a playground where you've gone with your kids is just pathetic really, no? In addition to all that, he was verbally aggressive and physically intimidating to you. I'm surprised so many people seem to think you're unreasonable - I thought calling the police would be exactly what you'd do after a situation like that.

No-one really smokes king-sized hand rolled cigarettes, do they?

Sorry wannabe, I will of course obtain your written authorisation next time I think I might want to post on AIBU. Perhaps you could give me the heads up by listing the required criteria?

Should I a) already believe I am being unreasonable but just want it confirming or b)be adamant at first and then realise enlightenment following your reasoned contribution ie "YABU you're lucky you didn't get a pasting from toughguy."?

Sorry thirdnipple, can I get a raincheck on the tickling? I need to go to bed.

Thanks for all the comments everyone.

Next time I see someone behaving inappropriately (imho) around children I might just ignore it. Or then again I might not.

I don't think you were BU to say something, in fact i think your quite brave but i do think YABU to call the police

kelpie i do se your point ,i just thought h was smoking in the car park but i still think you were bu calling the police for something so trivial . they do have better things to do (even if its just eating donuts)

CKelpie - YANBU to report him smoking a spliff - I think YABU to simply report the smoking.

The spliff smoking is an offence and certainly the fact he drove having done that is a concern and more serious.

I find it odd that you would not have reported him for that alone and only because he entered the childrens play area with it?

The smoking issue is unlikely to be enforced by the police unless - local authorities enforce the smoking bans.

I, personally, think that if you were reporting him - and I assume you passed his vehicle reg etc - thenthere was no need to confront him? You had your DC with you and I think that puts you at risk - if he is prepared to take drugs, in public, then I would suggest he might not be the most upstanding of characters - I would have reported the drug issue and left.

You do sound like a barrel of laughs CK, is it ok to call you CK? It makes me want to do a line or two of coke and k

unfortunately we have no right to say this guy shouldn't breed.

Nor should we have the right imho. I want democracy and freedom etc.

Unfortunately we now live in a UK which seems to be dominated in large parts by fairly antisocial behaviour of those who know all their rights but have no sense of responsibility.

Nothing we can do but move to Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Northern Europe where you still have some social shaming to make people appear to behave. And treat communal areas with respect.

It will never happen again here, but I'd still rather live here than in any of those uber controlled societies.

I would still imprison anyone for min of 5 years though who let their shitty dog shitty all over the public highway!! seriously I hate those scuttlers more than anyone else!

What did the police do about it?

you had a go at him so he had a go at you. Simples.

knickers, lol "simples"

PMSL wannabe

and ck phoned SCOTLAND YARD PMSL again ,bet they chocked on their donuts

or even choked ....

He was driving stoned, with kids in the vehicle. OP was right to call the police (said as a spliff smoker).