<quote>Will it be any better elsewhere? I'm not optimistic.</quote>

You're right not to be optimistic.  This sort of thing happens no matter where you live and no matter what sort of property you live in.  It's a sad fact of life these days I'm afraid.  Gangs of feral kids roaming the streets and town centres.  They smash up shops, houses, anything.  You should be safe now they've done that.  They're unlikely to return.  

Where I live, cars are targeted more than house windows and I've had my car vandalised many times, once in my own drive!  We installed 6' high electric gates after the last occasion some years ago.  Obviously it would be possible to climb over them but it seems to have stopped the passing opportunist.  Someone would have to make a real effort.

My car had the windows smashed twice at Preston Station and once at the Guildhall in the car park when I went to see the Royal Liverpool Phil.  The car before my present one had been keyed three times when it was parked in the street whilst I was shopping.

I don't know what the answer is.  However, we shouldn't all be living in fear.  I really do sympathise with you and hope you feel better soon.

Thanks, Richard, Milly and Mort. I still feel rather shaken by it. There was absolutely no reason behind it: I think it counts for a hobby these days. But I now feel very threatened: even before this happened, I was quite wary of things around this area. And they're so young: too young for the police to take any action. So it's difficult to feel reassured in any meaningful sense.

I could perhaps do with lessons in composure from a composer.

All family are darn sarf, but I've spoken to a couple of local friends. Don't want to worry my folks with it: they have enough on their plate at the mo, but will speak to sis later when she gets off duty.

Thanks, Daniel, I hope so too. But it happens every so often round here, and the kids that do it are very young, so am not sure it'll have much effect. Am told that the "Beat Constable" (makes him sound rather hip) will be in touch (I've never actually seen him on the beat, so I think it really may be a fashion thing), and I'll probably quiz him about what's being done over such issues in this area, and what can be done (if anything).

And I now discover I only have one rather inadequate measure of slivovice to find solace in!

But a couple of important days in the coming week (urgent work on a vocal score that may be getting a production in Czecho, and my viva - - on Friday) may yet help to keep me focussed in the coming days. Not right now, though: impossible to concentrate at the moment.

Thanks, IGI. The CSOs were sympathetic ("anything we can do", etc. etc.) but didn't offer anything concrete. (Hm, not quite the right word there, given that the window was smashed with a bit of brick.) I have an incident number, and have to wait for a crime number. That seems to be it, really.

It was terrifying. And still is. But I don't think it's a good idea to confront people, at whatever age they are. If it were happening to someone else, however, I'd like to think I'd react differently. It was a neighbour who identified the culprit, not me, and I'm very grateful to them. I was too scared even to look out at what was being done.

Thanks, pw. I'm not really sure what the answer is to this sort of situation. (I'm probably guilty of reading some of the papers you mention!) Clearly things aren't ideal, but then, what is? "Room for improvement" though, definitely, though what shape that might take I really don't know. Feeling rather too close to it at the moment too comment with any clarity.

But will see if the VS scheme offers anything.

Sorry to read about this happening to you Opi. I agree that the kid needs more than a telling-off from his mum. I think the police should inform his school too.

We've just had to deal with a small group of 6-8 year olds in my class who were yelling obscene abuse at our caretaker as she walked across their housing estate. It was quite shocking. They had a class exclusion the next day (had to sit in the Head's office) and judging by their remorse they'll think twice about doing that again. Mind you, they were unbelievably stupid as well as horrifyingly nasty - they knew she knew who they all were. She's known them since they were babies which makes it all the more upsetting.

MJ 

Milly says "This sort of thing happens no matter where you live and no matter what sort of property you live in.  It's a sad fact of life these days I'm afraid.  Gangs of feral kids roaming the streets and town centres."

Well, no.  It doesn't happen everywhere.  Let us get that clear.  Certainly not here.

Car scratching occurs through envy, get a Fiat Punto and you won't be bothered.  

The problem is parents who do not know, do not care about their children and how to bring them up and the children, who are totally unloved, totally uncared for, hit out because they know no different and have had no boundaries set.

Firstly, I'm afraid you're quite wrong Anty.  I have lived in towns, villages and cities.  It happens everywhere.  If it hasn't happened where you live you've just been very lucky or you're very isolated and it would be too much trouble to get there.


Secondly, car scratching isn't just through envy.  One of my sons lives on a street of mixed properties and mixed varieties of car ownership.  Regularly on a Saturday night, teenagers go right down the street smashing the wing mirrors of every single car on the way home, keying them, kicking them  - you name it.  These are cars that have to be parked on the road because of no garage space.  They're not Porsches or BMWs I can assure you.

Thirdly you are spot-on with what the problem is.  It does indeed start in the home, but I don't know what the answer to it all is.  How do you get through to these people - the parents?

When children are allowed to run wild in the streets and drink at home, some of them smoking by the age of 9, there are going to be huge problems.  What do you suggest?  Parenting classes?  I believe it's being tried and it may even work if you could only get the worst of them to attend.

All very sad.