Criminal damage help

[hammerman]

This might be a bit early to discuss but last night, i heard a few loud bangs coming from out the front of the house. I went out only to see a small group of "kids" running away. I had a further look and found no fewer than 12 car have had their wing mirrors kicked off....luckily not mine.

The kids ran off but not before myself and a neighbour had ID'd them as 4 youths age around 11-13 but didn't see any faces.

We called the police and an hour later got a call saying two had been caught and had admitted it. I will probably give a statement today of what i saw/heard.

Now what avenue is there for compensation for those who have had their cars damaged ? Would the courts rule the offenders to pay for the damge or is it up to the victims to get the money back via private means (small claims courts etc)

Any help would be very welcome.

[steve2010]

if they go to court,which i doubt,let off with a warning,the court could order them to compensate,but as i said,the police will most probably give them a caution or warning

[hammerman]

Update....one of the youths...aged 14, was arrested and charged with criminal damage after he kicked in another 5 wing mirrors and was held by a member of the public before police got him.

I suppose the only avenue open to my neighbours is to take the family to the small claims court !!!

[beryllium]

Hi hammerman,
This is the reason we now have a 500watt trip light and cctv cameras.....
The police came and got a tape with one of the little darlings staring clean into it lol after causing mayhem.... obviously thought it was a fake.
I'm just waiting now for the 3 little b'stards that keyed our car to walk by..... we know who they are but didn't have the cctv then.
The cameras cost �100 B+Q and we tape all night 8 hrs long play. DVD recorders dont do 8 hrs yet :-(

[doirecormac]

While I do not condone this type of response, in Northern Ireland some communities have their own system of 'justice'....... this happened yesterday.....

http://www.u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=79442& pt=n

[samuel23]

Hi Beryllium.
You are very lucky to have an understanding police force. After our car was damaged we installed a cctv camera and caught the local yobbos throwing a large piece of concrete through the windscreen of our neighbour's van. Armed with the footage we went to the police station thinking that we had the little b'stards bang to rights. Oh no. The police wouldn't accept the tape, saying that, as we didn't have a sign up outside saying there was a cctv recording the street, it infringed their rights. Furthermore if we persisted in recording the street these criminals may well be able to take legal action against US! This is despite the fact that two of them have asbos, one is waiting for a court date for criminal damage and another is facing charges of intimidation and threatening behaviour. No wonder this country is going to the dogs!

[beryllium]

Hi Samuel23,

It's true you do have to have a sign outside telling of surveillance. You could register it with the local council too...

Now then, have a trawl through these...

http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/cctv/cctv13.h tm

http://www.cctv-data-protection.info/legal1/

If it needs registering, and I don't think it does as it's not a business premises, then register it.
Our police are fantastic, but that's because we spoke to the Chief of Police via email......
It sounds like they're protecting the criminals and that's not good. Throw the book at them :-)