Anti-social behaviour

[Waffler]

I completely understand where you're coming from Maria. However, I DON'T know the children - simply knew approximately where in the village they live and have since been told by our neighbours what the family name is and that the whole family is a pain.
And I know that shouting does very little - to be honest we've taken the 'just ignore it' approach, because as a teacher I am used to taking on the calm tone and talking rather than shouting.
However, AS a teacher, I would find it a bit of a Busmans holiday to 'invite' these children in to my home or garden, when, as much as I love kids (it's the littlies I like not the big uns) when I'm at home I don't really want them encroaching on my limited free time. Of course it would be different if they were my own children or the kids of family or friends.
I also suspect that, even if they took up an opportunity to 'help' in the garden, they may then read this as a signal to come in whenever they feel, which I'm afraid I simply do not want, and frankly, which I don't think should be encouraged.

Luckily, (dare I speak too soon!) these past few nights have been quiet - we last heard from them on Wednesday evening, and then I think it was only the once.

[Two_Sheds]

Waffler, PM me their name and the village and I will write a letter to the parents (you wouldn't be mentioned, and the postal mark being Norfolk wouldn't identify you at all). Or you can email me a letter of your own and I will print and post it for you.

[marialittlebzz]

we've taken the 'just ignore it' approach.

actually, that's the best one in this case !! seems to work , happy for you

[Paul Wagland]

We had a couple of teenage lads messing around with our garage/shed for a while - one night in particular we came home to find them walking nervously away and it took us ages to notice they'd taken almost all the screws out of the six hinges on the double doors!

I put the screws back and drilled out the heads (so now even I can't remove them!) but most importantly we put a cctv camera above the door. It's not even plugged in, but we've had no trouble since.

It's true the picture isn't always good enough to be useful, but kids don't realise that and even professional crooks are unlikely to chance it. I'm guessing if your troublemakers are just bored kids this will make them go somewhere else for their fun.

[The Doctor]

It's true the picture isn't always good enough to be useful, but kids don't realise that and even professional crooks are unlikely to chance it. I'm guessing if your troublemakers are just bored kids this will make them go somewhere else for their fun.

In all seriousness, don't expect the police to use the evidence collected unless you have a sign warning about the CCTV. If they are not aware they are being filmed for this purpose, it is virtually inadmissable.

My local kids football club was always having problems with vandals so they stuck a camera up. When they produced clear footage of the next toe-rags to damage the place, the police refused to do anything 'official' on the grounds the evidence had been collected illegally, because, yep, you guessed it, there were no signs telling them they were being filmed!

Several adult members of the football club decided to do something 'unofficially' and it stopped. I don't blame the police directly because it's the pathetic judiciary system that has produced this and you can bet your life that same 'system' would be complaining about vigilante-ism if it found out!

[Waffler]

I had heard that about CCTV cameras actually, and since we live in a 17th C chocolate box thatched cottage, we neither have the inclination, or would probably be allowed (if we bothered asking: we're Grade 2 listed) to put big signs up drawing people's attention to the cameras. It's mental that you're not allowed to protect yourselves and your property without fear of a law suit!!

Thanks for the offer TwoSheds, but I think we'll just see how things go for now. With any luck, they've been washed down a local drain with all this wet weather!!

[Two_Sheds]

In all seriousness, don't expect the police to use the evidence collected unless you have a sign warning about the CCTV. If they are not aware they are being filmed for this purpose, it is virtually inadmissable.

So how does "normal" cctv get allowed then? Like those invisible ones hidden in streetlamps? There's no signs on them.

[The Doctor]

Maybe there's a difference between protecting private property and those covering public spaces at the council's (or ultimately public) expense?

This need for notification is also the reason loads of companies have a message on their phone lines telling you the call may be recorded for training purposes.

I like to tell them that the call may be recorded by my switchboard as well for our own records, and most of them have been told to say they can't allow this!

[rustylady]

As usual, one law for some and no law for the poor bu****s who are actually suffering from antisocial behaviour.