I live in Cape Town and belong to the local neighbourhood watch
due to the fact that the crime around here is getting ridiculous.
We work in conjunction with the police and have walkie talkies.
When someone is burgled, it goes out on the radio and we all jump into our cars and try to catch the burglar.
Anyfeckingway, that was a background... last week a neighbourhood watch member passed by a couple of 14 year old smoking weed on the street. He called the police and because they had more than 5 grams on them they were arrested for "dealing".
I was beside myself with anger and said to the other members "there but for the grace of God go most of us".

These kids were locked up overnight in our local police cells and will probably have this on record for the rest of their lives.

The answer to your question is a resounding NO.
If I were you I would have just warned them to stop and probably laughed as I walked away.
( Flowerpot No longer has the vapours thanks to DTH, Sat 13 Jun 2009, 22:04, archived)

Fucking hell!
That is proper shitty :(
( Redsushi! Whoop! Whoop! Yes, that one!, Sat 13 Jun 2009, 22:05, archived)

I was shaking with rage when it came on the radio
However, I am so addicted to this neighbourhood watch thing that I wouldn't "resign".
It's incredible adrenaline-packed fun when we screech around the streets chasing people.
( Flowerpot No longer has the vapours thanks to DTH, Sat 13 Jun 2009, 22:12, archived)

im guessing that these kids will probably get different treatment
just a guess though
( rosalicious i fucking love youve been framed, Sat 13 Jun 2009, 22:08, archived)

and they SHOULD have it on their records
as a reminder not to be such massive bellends.
( Grrrmachine the indifference engine, Sat 13 Jun 2009, 22:08, archived)

Fuck that.
It's not up to you to choose which laws are applicable. The kids wanting booze are likely to intimidate people. The kids in your story were stupid.
( CowJam, Sat 13 Jun 2009, 22:09, archived)

But if I was that person who was approached by kids to buy booze
or saw them smoking weed on the streets, then it would be up to me.
And it would be my choice not to call the police.
( Flowerpot No longer has the vapours thanks to DTH, Sat 13 Jun 2009, 22:19, archived)

i doubt it would be that serious for these kids
it's the UK not the third world, they'd probably just be moved on
( well, Sat 13 Jun 2009, 22:10, archived)

They'd get a clip round the ear
and when they get home they'd hope their dad didn't know, cos if he did they'd get a clip round the other ear
( CowJam, Sat 13 Jun 2009, 22:13, archived)

If their parents were anywhere near as reactionary as lot
they'd be out in the family estate looking for turb0t trying to kneecap him.
( Grrrmachine the indifference engine, Sat 13 Jun 2009, 22:21, archived)

I'm glad i chose
to go to the Durban office and let somebody else go to the Capetown office then, if Capetown is that bad.
( turb0t, Sat 13 Jun 2009, 22:12, archived)

Our local police are really great
(and there aren't many like that, as you probably know).
I believe they would have given them a warning and called their parents had it not been a member of the public that had nabbed them and called in the police.
( Flowerpot No longer has the vapours thanks to DTH, Sat 13 Jun 2009, 22:23, archived)