When young people gather near your home
Groups of teenagers often gather in parks, street corners, and residential areas, particularly during evenings and school holidays. In most cases, this is harmless: young people need somewhere to socialise, and public spaces serve that purpose.
When groups regularly gather directly outside your property, it can become wearing. Noise, litter, and general disruption are common concerns. Some residents feel intimidated, even when no threat is intended.
This article covers practical steps you can take if groups gathering outside your home are causing genuine problems, helping you respond proportionately without escalating the situation.
Anti-Social Behaviour: Who To Call Decision Tree
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Try our Anti-Social Behaviour: Who To Call Decision Tree free, here on this site →Assess the situation calmly
Before taking action, consider what is actually happening. Are the young people simply talking and passing time, or causing actual problems? These situations call for different responses.
Check whether they are gathering on public land or private property. On public land, they generally have as much right to be there as anyone else. On private property, the landowner has more options.
Occasional gatherings that disperse within a reasonable time are usually best ignored. If you live near a bus stop, shop, or park, some level of gathering is to be expected. However, if gatherings are frequent and prolonged, or if specific problems arise, you may need to act. Problems worth addressing include:
- Persistent loud noise, particularly late at night
- Litter being left on or immediately outside your property
- Damage to fences, walls, or vehicles
- Verbal abuse or intimidating behaviour
- Drug use or drinking in the immediate vicinity
- Blocking access to your property
Keep a record if problems occur regularly. Note dates, times, and what happened. This information will be useful if you involve authorities later.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
Speaking to young people directly
A polite request to keep noise down or move along slightly may be all that is needed. Many young people respond reasonably to a calm approach.
However, think carefully before approaching any group, particularly if they appear to have been drinking or using drugs, if there have been previous hostile interactions, if you feel genuinely unsafe, if the group is large, or if it is late at night. Confrontations can escalate badly. Your personal safety comes first: if you have any doubt, do not approach.
If you do speak to the group, keep your tone neutral. Requesting they keep the noise down is often more effective than asking them to leave. Avoid lecturing or being condescending.
Speaking to parents can help if you know who they are. A friendly word with a parent may resolve the issue without any confrontation with the young people themselves.
Involving authorities and longer term approaches
If direct approaches have not worked, or you do not feel safe making them, various authorities can help.
Your local council is usually your first contact for anti-social behaviour concerns. Most councils have dedicated community safety teams who can send warning letters, arrange mediated discussions, or work with other agencies. Search your council's website for information on reporting anti-social behaviour.
Police involvement is appropriate if you witness criminal activity such as drug dealing, vandalism, or assault. For non-emergencies, call 101 or report online through your local force's website. For emergencies, call 999. Police have powers including dispersal orders that can require people to leave an area.
Housing associations can help if the young people live in social housing nearby. Many have community safety teams that can take action against tenants whose household members cause problems for neighbours.
If problems continue despite initial reports, keep logging incidents and updating authorities. Councils and police prioritise cases with clear evidence of ongoing problems.
Community Protection Notices can be issued to individuals causing persistent anti-social behaviour. Before a notice is issued, a written warning must be given. Breaching a notice is a criminal offence.
You can request a Community Trigger (sometimes called an ASB Case Review) if you have reported anti-social behaviour three or more times within six months without satisfactory resolution. This requires local agencies to review your case and develop an action plan. Check with your council for specific criteria in your area.
Practical measures around your property may help. Better lighting can deter gatherings in darker spots. Removing low walls or seating areas may make your property frontage less attractive as a gathering point, though structural changes may require planning permission.
Working collectively with other affected residents through neighbourhood watch schemes can be more effective than acting alone, and demonstrates to authorities that the problem affects multiple households.
For detailed information about anti-social behaviour powers and processes, GOV.UK provides guidance on the legal framework. A measured approach, starting with the least confrontational options and escalating only when necessary, will usually produce better results than immediate confrontation.
I have decided to report the incident of assault..... At first I simply asked them if they would simply stop screaming.
Nobody minds them playing and having a good laugh.... Ot is when it becomes abusive.
Are there extra laws in place for somebody who has issues with noise intolerance due to a mental health condition.
If possible use some noice cancelling ear plugs and listen to music to relax..... They seem to want ANY ATTENTION - good , bad indifferent.... Doesn't matter. Even if police call to their parents house some of them see it as a status thing.
There is a nice park/play area for kids to play in which they use on a regular basis & it's nice to see them play rather than sit at home all day in the summer on playstations etc.
However!!!
I live on a rat run from the local school so i have a few teenages passing my house between 15.00 & 16.30hrs.
I've built a nice small garden area outside where a path runs past my house that these local morons use.
At first they started scuffing up my golden gravel & stealing a few pebbles dotted around my garden, but it's now esculated into pelting my front door every night with gravel & waiting for me to run out. They bang on my neighbours front door causing their dog to bark constantly for what seems like hours.
They also bang on all the neighbours doors & run off. Play loud music on the park/play area,& bully all the small youngsters who just want to play on the swings & slides, leave litter & damaged the climbing frame by setting fire to the timber bridge walk & the rope which holds it together. Pure stupidity.
I could go on & on but i'm not.
When i've contacted the Police they've done SOD ALL!!
I was told " It's down to you what you do but you'll have to except any repercussions" WHAT!
Not all youths are bad but some are & don't except any resposibility at all.
I also have a front and back sonic noise device for animals off Amazon that send off a sonic tweet the kids get confused and after a few minutes leave the area it has worked a treat.
Amazon sell them for animals so I would definitely get one can’t really hear it but the kids can lol
However, gangs of local kids gather there every night. Smoking, drinking, swearing, shouting, vandalising, leaving a mess etc. In the holidays/weekends they are there playing football (on main 30mph Road) and football is I believe purposely kicked into gardens.
I have involved police and Metro have even taken the seat out of the bus stop.
I have shown police cctv footage of the bus stop being vandalised/ the plastic windows being smashed in the bus stop, the noise, the language etc etc etc.. Although police allegedly spoke to these kids (ages ranging from approx 9yrs to 17yrs)It only stopped when we went into lock down restrictions.. And it's been like heaven.
My concern now is that we will more then likely be coming out off lock down restrictions by the Summer? And they will be back of that I am sure..
Oh and yes I have tried to talk to these kids in the past (I have my Grandchildren on a regular basis) about noise etc and get abuse back..
Next to me is a lady in her 80's who has told me sometimes she scared by the noise/these gangs (which I have also informed the police about) and the other side to me is a man in his late 40's early 50's who does not want to get involved!! (it's only us 3 three really that are affected.)
Any advise from anyone as to what more I can do besides sell up!!
Thank you.
We have had to put up a border divider to help stop him doing this, because not only was he going through the garden beds, and scuffing the grass, he was also throwing his rubbish over the fence as he walked along the garden bed. The rubbish consisted of faeces covered tissue, and paper smeared with something smelly. Today, he walked up the driveway in a curve and then out again, and along the grass scuffing as he walked. I have not spoken to him. I would like to speak to his parents, but they work long hours and are not home. He was also getting his friends to loiter out the front. We have installed security cameras, so their actions are recorded.
His behaviour is seriously disrespectful, and he has always behaved like this since the family moved there. His younger sister has taught their dog to bark at me when I hang out the laundry. So, we have a clothes dryer now. Poor dog being taught something like that. The teenager's brother who is only about 6, is sent out to run over the garden. Watched him do that twice.
Have noticed now that we are in our late 50's, there is much disrespect from young people. We are not scared, just disgusted. There are no consequences for bad behaviour, that is why children behave like this. It is bad parenting. There seems to be no consequence for bad behaviours anywhere. In the past we have always had to be the ones to move house to get away from bad anti social neighbours. Have really had enough. Have had to install roller shutters because of attempted break ins. Says a lot about society doesn't it. Trash.
The noise up to midnight every evening in the summer is Really bad !!!
The noise is so bad it gets my dogs barking every evening as it’s so loud.
I understand they have no where to go this is very sad.
I have called the council and they have no funding to shut the gates at ten pm and suggested that I could be a key holder, having MS I do not wish to become one for fear of them knocking on my door .
We have called the police to no avail several times even when they are shooting up drugs and leaving needles too .
Terrible times for all .
is that we were basically harmless, engaging for the most part in healthy activities and never endangering peoples lives, nor really blighting them to the extent that continuous aggravation might have on the same person or persons in their property. We had the imagination to explore. We were also, and this is very important, absolutely and never violent to anyone, not even among ourselves. Perhaps our actions were because we were from a time (late 1970s/early 1980s) when strict parenting and proper policing meant something and could effectively control our actions and mindset. A threat to get the police involved, or even your mother and father discouraged any further antisocial activity. Fast forward to today and things are very different.
For the things I did in my youth, even though I would say that they were not that bad in the grand scheme of things, karma seems to have dealt me a hefty poke in the eye. Over many years, going back to the early 2000s, I found myself besieged by small to large groups of youths, using the sheltered area and stairwell beneath my property to litter, spit, urinate, play music, play football, shout, fight, vandalise, commit arson, smoke weed, deal in drugs etc. I can now empathize with those who suffered the receiving end of my few antisocial activities. The actions of these youths throughout the years slowly turned me into a nervous wreck and plunged me into a deep depression. The inaction of the local council and rel
I’ve got really bad anxiety and when my husband is at work I struggle to sleep, or even just take my dog for a walk because they are there.
Yesterday night they were shining laser pointers through my window and spat all over the staircase to my flat. They are stubbing out cigarrettes on the carpet floor.
I called local police twice and they said not much they can do, they will try and pass by. Called 999 when they were outside my door, tresspassing and doing drugs inside but the police did not come.
Really do not know what to do
I feel let down as I'm a single mum with anxiety and depression and no family around, I can't talk to anyone on the road as everyone knows everyone and I dont want anything coming back on me and my kids as my daughter goes to school with one or two of them. I need help lots making me so ill and worried every night
The other thought I had might be to have a friendly chat with them if you feel able to approach them, during day light hours? Have a chat with neighbours, gain some support, don't feel alone, there is so much you can do, try not to feel alone!
I really hope things improve for you.- take care and chat to neighbours/family!
I still live in my end bungalow after 5years.
Yesterday a little so and so was jumping up and down on my garden wall which is full of nice flowers. I knocked hard on the window, he turned, saw me and got down.
Tonight about 7pm I heard faint tapping from my living room window and went to look through the blinds, 3 kids had decided to use my window to play on.
I again knocked angrily this time and they saw me and left with their scooters.
I am sick of getting so angry an then I cry that I allow them to make me anxious. I have been on a low dosage of antidepressant but I don't like using them an they're not helping much. I can;t get a job so I am in a lot. I am dreading the next 6 weeks when they're all off.
The council built a park within walking distance for the kids last year where they do use a lot but still get the few who like to terrorise us.
Why can't they play in their own garden and not using the ledge underneath my window??
The council do sod all. 'Unless I know who they are etc...'
The police do what they can but they cannot solve everything.
I like my bungalow and the area in general but the kids drive me to despair where I wish I could again move but have no money to do so.
I have the few times a month where I house sit for family when they use the caravan so I get some respite from the kids but why must they be so unreasonable?
Other older people in my area also get trouble like door knocking, climbing over their gardens etc. I really do not know what to, over reacting maybe, but this IS MY HOME, go an play in your own gardens.
It looks as if Hawthorne is the only way to solve it as it can grow high and if it is planted right might work just have to wait until we get some.
I am house sitting at the moment where there are more traffic than kids which is better for me think I would love to move my bungalow elsewhere!
Funny how whenever you ask for help from your local housing authority all you get is 'no' so long as they get the rent money.
Yet again, roll on September as we have the two week easter break coming up soon, unless it rains every day so will the kids be out and terroising the area.
Today for example, the first nice day and a few kids girls from ages 4 upwards like to lean on the wall and fill small boxes with my tree bark and god knows what else from the garden. I am easily agitated but its a waste of time telling them to go away as they come back. I am looking into anti vandal pain (black paint that never dries) and with signs up this might work so long as I don't get blamed for the kids who fail to notice the big yellow signs if they get their clothes dirty. All I can do is monitor them and take photos (which I don't like to do). I am right in all our council want from you is the rent money they're very picky at offering to help with anything else! All I can also say is roll on September as after the clocks change tonight I hate the lighter nights as by not able to get a job I notice things more like the kids being out longer and I am no able to move as that isn't cheap. Somethings in life aren't fair anymore.
Taking photos is really effective but you must not let the drug dealers know that you are doing it. We got a secret camera and we were really careful.
Railings are deliberately broken, trees deliberately damaged. I am trying to sell my house and buyers have been put off by the behaviour. It is literally making me ill. The Council does nothing. Good advice going to the Community Police, but this then has to be declared if I do find a buyer so I am at my wits' end. Any advice?
I hate having to have kids sit on my wall. This lot are quite young aged 4 upwards and in my eyes, should be at home this time of the night even if it is a summer evening.
I used to be in by 9pm as school hasn't closed yet so they should be indoors by 9pm or am I being too old fashioned?
I wish I worked night shift so I wouldn't have this issue and really wish I could move but cannot afford too being on benefits. I try to keep myself busy but every now and then when I see kids messing about my front garden it does p*** me off as why cant they go and play in their own garden???
Anyone else get this during the summer night?
Roll on September as I find it gets too hot for me anyway by 11am.
Nothing wrong with the bungalow itself but it is a target for unruly kids. I am unemployed so when my dad and stepmum stay at their caravan I jump at the chance to house sit as by not working means I am in a lot.
My anxiety is the main issue too but I am trying not to let these snotty kids bother me as I can always move if necessary but that comes with a cost...I am sympathetic for those who have far worse than me but it seems like a horrible place I live when the shouting and screaming starts and no parent or adult seems to tell them off either.
BAN THE FOOTBALL AND WHY CANT OUR COUNCIL PUT UP A ELECTRIFIED FENCE AROUND??? Wishful thinking. Sigh.
The police on the phone told me noise is a council issue, not a police issue unless they are doing something criminal.. I couldn't believe it as before the council have told me all noise outside a pub and on the street is a police issue. Besides, I doubt the council have the power to move a bunch of kids in the middle of the night, let alone the staff around to do it.
Seems causing a disturbance is no longer an offence. I do wonder now why we pay our taxes to the police, seems to be more and more they wash their hands off.
I love teenagers as I am not a negative, hateful person and I am proud of that.
However I think a large problem is that basically the lack of responsibility or accountability from several parties: the respective parents; the council and the police. For instance if you ring the police you're treated like it doesn't matter. What makes it doubly worse if having local police stations closed to public of an afternoon, evening and weekend. But I agree with the firm initial but fair approach; the people sitting on the wall are human, and they may not be sitting there intentionally. We all grow up learning lessons. Worst comes to the worst, at least you tried.. at least you exhausted all reasonable avenues of redress. Beyond this I do not see why one should parent other people's off-spring, or appear to appease them.
There comes a point in their life where they have to be held accountable for their actions and I'm afraid to say, I have next to zero faith in the police, the council to follow their duties to the letter. Seems the only thing they will respond to is what they might deem as negative publicity. Sad yes, but after seeing this very problem go on for years on end I'm just glad householders now have access to video hosting sites. Many of those people have reached their end. Take care.
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