Feral youth - What are you supposed to do?

[anonymous-user]

I am just reflecting on something that happened yesterday.

Walking back from the shops at about 9pm with mother, brother and 4 month old jack Russell 'Snoop'. We pass a crowd of 10+ 14-15 year olds, both boys and girls loitering outside a shop.

Girls start screaming at the dog he goes by, dog gets spooked, we tell them to be quiet, one boy then decides to stamp down on the pavement no more than two inches away from my pup's head, a full on verble confrontation begins which then leads the boy punches me twice, attempts to throw a lotto sign at me and the girls have hit my mother (who was on release from hospital that day with serious neurological issues/fluid swelling on brain...) twice with a school bag on the head.


After my mother was hit I saw red but I had to use every iota of self restraint not to completely lose it despite us being attacked first because I am the adult of the situation, but It seemed wrong at I had to put my future and job ahead of protecting my family, regardless of age/gender of the offender.

For those who would "call the police" they were called but the response time was so patheic by the time blues and twos could be heard we were already at home and have no interest in speaking with them.

I was honestly wondering what other people would do in this sort of situation? Run? Stand your ground? Fight back?

Edited by 279 on Tuesday 7th July 13:51

[anonymous-user]

Adenauer said:

I would have lost the plot completely and would now probably be dead.

Just to put into context, there wasn't a risk of death to anyone but the kids. It was a big group, but mainly the kids were just that, kids, they swore like adults, threatened like adults but they were kids.

Even the boy that hit me was a few inches taller_and with the uniform off you couldn't tell but I could tell from the force (or rather lack of it) this wasn't a fully developed adult.

It would have been a 25 year old lying down a beating to a 15 year old boy and if I was in for a penny, the little who hit my mum would have had a few slaps too.

If I had faith in the police, CPS and justice system I would , I was waiting for him to hit me first, but even then I was thinking even in the beat case scenario, I'm still spending a night in the cells.

[anonymous-user]

WestyCarl said:

279 said:

Adenauer said:

I would have lost the plot completely and would now probably be dead.

Just to put into context, there wasn't a risk of death to anyone but the kids. It was a big group, but mainly the kids were just that, kids, they swore like adults, threatened like adults but they were kids.

Even the boy that hit me was a few inches taller_and with the uniform off you couldn't tell but I could tell from the force (or rather lack of it) this wasn't a fully developed adult.

Be careful, it's usually the small skinny runts who do carry knives to act big. In the heat of the moment who knows what might happen.

Call me a wimp, but 99% of the time I'll walk away, especially if it's more than one.

"Funny" you should say that, At the beginning he did spend an awfully long time trying to dig through his jacket pocket, as if he had a knife or wanted me to think he hand one. Interestingly with aderinalin pumping, I really did not care, just made a note that if anything comes out, isolate it, take it off him and use it. The idea of having something pulled on me really didn't care me as much as I would have thought.

I'm the guy that shakes when in a heated argument over a battery in Kwik fit, possibly about to get stabbed/into a street fight? Solid as a rock. Adrenaline is weird.

[anonymous-user]

Ari said:

279 said:

For those who would "call the police" they were called but the response time was so patheic by the time blues and twos could be heard we were already at home and have no interest in speaking with them.

So the kids go completely unchallenged by the police (who can do nothing if you have 'no interest in speaking to them') and next time they'll push it a bit further with someone else.

Maybe if a previous victim of this mob had had some 'interest' in speaking to the police you might not have had the same situation.

Maybe if you were 'interested' in speaking to the police about it the next person wouldn't be put in a bad situation...

You were punched by one of them and your mother hit over the head and you're happy to sit back and leave that unreported?

Yep.

The police have systematically failed me and my direct family numerous times. Without this turning into an anti police thread, I do not like the police neither do I trust them.

I was actually glad that they didn't attend as I would not put it pass them for them to have arrested me.

[anonymous-user]

Thankyou4calling said:

If they are typical 14/15 year olds I would've pushed them, pushed them hard maybe against a fence or wall.

I'm a big bloke, powerful and a shove would be enough to scare them witless.

No way would a kid get the better of me like that, I just wouldn't have it.

That's actually how it all came to an end. The gobby boy tried throwing another punch at me which got deflected and hit my mum on the the arm*, the next thing I remember was dragging him towards the bonnet of a freelander in the road that had stopped. It was only when I processed 'oh, that's a freelander' did I go back to semi coherent thought and process that I was about to chuck a lad onto someone's bonnet and possibly up and over into the road - Not cool. I had also clocked that he wasn't fighting back at this point and was totally limp (or not strong enough to put up any resistance) and I again thought he was just a kid and proceeding any further was going to take me down a path I don't want to travel, so I let go and went back to check on mum.

He was gone within 2 minutes after that. In hindsight I should have done it the moment he squared up to me, but like I've said, I didn't want to lay a fingers on him in any circumstances if it could have been helped.


!*Going over that my sick mum was hit three times and I didn't lash out really makes me feel like a lot less of a man. . Mum says I did the right thing, but my inner caveman ain't so sure.

Edited by 279 on Tuesday 7th July 17:39

[anonymous-user]

FredClogs said:

Dude you didn't win, they beat you and your mum and you've done nothing and will do nothing and now you're on the internet telling random strangers how you restrained your killer instinct and for the good of society didn't go all chuck Norris on some kids arse.

I suggest this will happen again, people do this kind of st because they get away with it, they're low lives, but you're doing no one any good by rising above it and you're kidding yourself. Either sort it or get the police involved otherwise you'll spend the rest of your life crossing the road and being a pussy. Sorry to say out but its the truth. Better to fight and lose (and you may very well lose, don't under estimate the average 15 year old kid).

I suggest the new equaliser film and 4 Stella if you need some inspiration.

Life isn't a movie or a video game. In real life actions have consequences that should be thought about. Mine could well of being sacked from my job, a criminal record, a completely changed life for a few minutes of madness? To do what? To have a fight that clearly didn't have to be had? Why? To prove I can I beat up a 15 year old like a 'ard man? Give me a fking break.

Right now I'm at home, with my family, reflective, but happy. Alternatively at the very least I would be worrying about the possibility of an assault charge, retaliation or god knows what. You all know as well as I do that justice can fall on seemingly the wrong side depending on how the picture is painted, I don't ever want to have to take that risk unduly.

I have a good job, a loving family and hopes for the future, there is no way in hell I am going to jeopardize my future without good reason. Whilst it was a highly unpleasant situation at no point where our lives at risk, these were still kids, fking insignificant punks, not even worth the risk of throwing my life away.

[anonymous-user]

Thankyou4calling said:

FredClogs said:

It's not a mine field it's very straight forward, you're allowed to act reasonably to defend yourself. The fact it's a minor doesn't change anything. Obviously what is reasonable is entirely scenario dependent, and would be left to the system and/or a jury to decide.

Don't be scared to defend yourself, the law is on your side and always has been.

I was just posting this. Too many think you can't defend yourself, in fact I think lots use it as an excuse because they are too scared and CANT defend themselves.
Push em to the ground or a decent kick in the nuts.

Of course you'll be arrested the cops have to but it'll go no further, and if the yobs say they are filming it, good! That's even better.

The "reasonable" force bit is always going g to be ambiguous though...

And let's not forget, I did give him a push/drag and he did fk off (even then I was worrying about lying a hand on him due to the adult vs minor thing), but according to a few I'm a jessie for not laying down a Clint Eastwood style beat down on a c. 15 year old boy and slapping about 13/14 year girl old in a fight that clearly didn't need to happen.

It should have happened, they crossed the line hitting either one of us but in this day and age I just don't think a few bangs that don't even register on the adults warrants handing out a full on hiding, at least in the eyes of the law.

[anonymous-user]

Issi said:

You know what the headlines would be in your local paper 'Local MAN savagely beats innocent child' and this story would have to be complete with the poor youth with his hair combed and his top button done up looking all sad, standing in front of his scowling Mum, who wears a sleeveless top so that she can show off her new tats.

And God forbid you've ever had an interesting job or pastime, as it would have to mention 'EX-teacher/soldier/scout leader/boxer'

Sadly true.