A worthwhile use of police resources?

[andye]

We have our fair share of Mini Nazghuls round these parts too, 10 year olds in hoodies giving the evil eye to anyone that approaches, laughable indeed.

As absolutely no consolation we have similar problems here is Australia. It is the kids who get me though. Barely 10 years old, with their little gang and walking around like they own the place offering verbal assaults to all and sundry. I was actually on the receiving end of such a tirade one evening while walking home. Disgusting behaviour.

I wanted to reach out and grab the little thug by the scruff of his neck and put the fear of God into him.

I didn't.

Only because will all my 175 cm, 95kg, gym 6 nights a week physique, it probably wouldn't have been the scariest thing an adult has ever done to him.

It's sad really. There's no boundary for these kids. Picking me and not getting a rise out of me probably only builds his bravado. Unfortunately one day he'll pick someone with less restraint and something pointy in their pocket and they may well be the end of him.

[drgummi]

I had a funny version of that. A drunk tramp was staggering around at the junction of Oxford St and Tottenham Court Road, and as I was the largest person in the vicinity, he decided to let me know that if I got within ten feet of him, he'd stab me.

"Come at me with a knife my boy," I said, "And I'll cut your c*ck off with it and make you eat it".

"Steady on mate, steady on" he said, shocked, "I was only joking!"

Getting the level of threat right in reply to these people isn't something one can either teach, or be taught, unfortunately: the simple universal rule, however, is that someone who is going to physically attack you *never* telegraphs it in advance with a lot of yelling. They just do it.

[gaochuk]

You will get immediate police action if you grab hold of a 10 year old thug in this country. Your feet will not touch the ground as you are hauled off to a police cell.

[yellobird]

That reminds me of the two small clowns (maybe 12ish) who drove in circles to spit on me ... that is when you seriously consider, if the fine for sending them flying wouldn't be a fair investment.
But to be fair, they were the exception ... and I never had any problems with the more grown ups (16+), as they usually leg it when you look at them.
And when rubbered up, people are anyway to scared ;-)