Waiting for the police to arrive - what would you have done?

[annie0000]

My son (age 9) was playing at our newly built local park at teatime and came home crying and upset as 3 boys from his class were throwing large stones (about the size of my hand), sand and sticks at him and giving him verbal abuse. As he was trying to get on his bike to cycle back, one of them whacked him on the back with a large stick causing a weal - he was also hit by several stones but not much in the way of marks left on him. I cycled round to the park to see if I could see the boys but they were gone.

I spoke to two other boys from my son's class who were there in the park and they told me the same tale and showed me some of the stones. I don't have the 3 boys addresses, but do have a home phone number for one of them. I tried to call the number twice with no response.

I then tried to contact the community policeman and I am now waiting for the police to arrive. Do you think this is ott?

What would you have done?

[dotty.]

your son should start judo or any other martial art lessons, it's not so tat he can attack anyone, it's so that they don;t attacl him, it does work, it will boost his confidence and he will learn the right way to defend himself

You've done tight talkin to the local police they will take it seriously, so should the school

[annie0000]

Ha Ha dot - he has gone to Judo since he was 6 and he is bigger than them, on a one on one there would not be a problem, but 3 against 1 with weapons is not a fair fight. They are more streetwise than he is.

[dotty.]

guess not, they're looking to be a gang I guess, school should sort them out if the law can't

[EngTeach]

You were 100% right and definitely let the school know that the police are involved. Kids argue and such, but sticks and rocks takes it to another level. Keep a close eye on him and the school as there can be "payback" for telling. The kids here have a saying, "snitches get stitches". Unfortunately this is the code of the streets and today's kids live by it.

[annie0000]

Thanks engteach. Police couldn't make it last night so they are coming today after school. Can't send the kids to breakfast club as two of the boys involved go to that, so I will be late for work!!! Anyway, going with my two to school today so that I can make the school aware of the situation so hopefully there is no more trouble today. Hoping a short sharp shock finishes it before it has a chance to escalate more. You would think that building the park that we have been waiting on for 8 years would be a good thing, but unfortunately, it is not even been officially opened yet and already it has brought trouble to my door!

[ummmm]

The police take these kind of things very seriously.

[zzxxee]

how disgracefull that the police didnt come out last night!!!!
i would also book a doc appointments for them to hote down an injuries and press charges !!!!!!

[zzxxee]

*note down

[annie0000]

That's good to know Ummmm - it is sometimes difficult to step back and get perspective when it is your own child, but when i look it at from the alternative viewpoint, i.e. would I want to know if my child was behaving like that to another child, I absolutely would, so I think I have made the correct decision.

[annie0000]

Hi zzxxee - Someone was killed in a traffic accident last night, so I'll excuse them. They did call me at 9pm to say that they felt it was too late to come and speak to him which I think was fair enough. They wouldn't have been able to go and speak to the others last night either.

In a way, they had an evening sweating wondering if they were going to get into trouble and today will be feeling a bit cocky, it will be good for them to come down with a bump later.

[ummmm]

My son and his mate had some bother with some older boys. The older boys nicked his mates money (£3)

The police contacted me about it....A few weeks later someone came to take a statement...a few weeks after that I had a phone call to say the boys had been arrested.

I thought it was a bit OTT for £3 but their attitude was...it needs to be nipped in the bud.

[sara3]

annie, my son has also been bullied (mostly verbal) for a few years, on and off, and he's now 13.

I hope this blows over for you all x

[zzxxee]

ahhh well thats a good enough reason for them not coming out x
i presume you have told the school ?

[annie0000]

It's terrible isn't it Sara - I hope your son is okay - we are trying to get something sorted out for my 10 year old as it has now been going on with him on and off for nearly 2 years. I am hoping this incident with my 9 year old is a one off and can be dealt with swiftly.

I spoke to school this morning to make them aware - they seemed to be supportive and said that they will monitor things in school today and make the class aware that they know there has been an incident.

I saw 2 of the boys in the playground as I was going into the school - they looked at me with eyes like saucers and one of them said something about my son having been fighting too which I ignored and walked in to speak to the teacher. She called the Head in as well so i explained the situation to them both.

I am well aware that my son can be a bit gobby, and I believe that it kicked off cos one of the boys fell into a bit of water and my son laughed. if it was a bit of verbal and a bit of sand throwing, I probably would have monitored but not taken any immediate action. But when it comes to 3 on 1 with weapons at age 8 and 9 then I still feel that does not constitute a fight, that is an attack and the gang mentality kicking in

[annie0000]

Police came today and basically gave us the option of taking formal statements and witness statements with a view to charging the boys with assault or for them to go round to their houses and give them a warning. We opted for the latter and they told us we still had the option to go down the first route if there was any recurrance. The phoned later to say that thet got all 3 at home and spoke to them in front of their parents - there was a few half hearted counter claims but the parents were basically supportive and were more so after the police explained that I would have spoken to them myself if I had known where they lived or if I had got an answer on the phone from the number I had. I hope this is the end of it.

[ttfn]

Well done annie - I hope they leave your son alone now. Pleased to read that their parents were supportive - the boys' 'punishment' may yet be to come in that case.