What can I legally do to prevent kids from climbing over my garden wall?

Question

I have a real problem with the kids who use the park behind me. They keep climbing the wall and kicking their footballs over several times a day. They've knocked my two year old son off his slide, ruined plants, and covered my washing in mud from their footballs. But when I ask them to stop they get cheeky and answer me back. The parents never supervise them, and when I complain about it they take no notice. Some of these kids are as young as 3 or as old as 21. The park has a sign stating that it is for supervised under 14's only, and ball games are not allowed (because houses surround it on all sides). I wouldn't be bothered if it was the only place they could play football safely, but there's a football club and large park just a few minutes walk away (4 pitches that barely get used for some odd reason)! My son and I were poorly for 3 months and the kids were constantly staring at us through the windows, climbing over to collect their balls and knocking for stuff they'd thrown over!

Answer 1

No problem, about 10 feet of razor wire should do the trick. Look on the internet - should only cost you about $25.

Answer 2

There isn't much you can do in the UK , however methods like anti vandal paint or thick auto motive grease spread on the fence top should put a stop to them climbing over. Also I would contact your local police station and ask for a home visit from their community officer for your area and explain to him everything that's happening and ask for help and advice from him or her. After that I would go to your local council and make enquiries about having an ASBO served on these louts. (Anti Social Behaviour Order). I agree with the rose bush idea as well although this will take some time . Can you borrow a large noisy dog from anyone for a few days over a weekend maybe. Sorry I cant be of more use.

Answer 3

I have a similar problem. Although I have only been here for 6 months, I have recently found out that 4 residents have moved out in quick succession. Next to my house we have large grass field with large trees on the far side. The older kids cant play football down that end so they use my gable end as a net. I have come out constantly to move them on with an open mind to their plight. I reason with them that I know they have no alternative. They play across now but when the older, 18 to 21 years olds come round,with drinks for all! the problem arises ten-fold.
I have now fitted carpet-gripper along the top of my fence, with another row along the gable end about the height of a football. I have also planted 4 climbing roses that I am going to leave to grow wild and hopefully spread10 feet or more away from my boundary wall.
Never give up though and persevere.

Answer 4

Anything Designed to injure could be considered a "Man Trap" so be very careful. Razor Wire is out of the Question. Barbed Wire would be OK, but it must be attached to your side of the wall and must not be accessible from the "Public" Side. Therefore you are more likely to end up with Kids knocking to get out of your Garden! The Best option is "Anti-Vandal Grease" or a version of. You can buy this from B&Q in a Tin. Just Smear it Nice and Thick on the top. After a couple of times over the wall, their mothers will ground them for life. (Its Black, Very Sticky and Impossible to remove from clothing). Its also LEGAL.

Answer 5

I can see this is a real problem. A higher fence is one answer but so obvious you must have considered that already. Another practical option is a big fierce (looking) dog. If no dog, get a sign saying beware of the dog.
Legally, your options are limited. You can sue the older ones and the parents of the younger ones for civil trespass - at least in theory - but that's a poor choice. If they damage things you can ask the police to charge them with aggravated trespass, a criminal offence. You can ask the local authority/police to impose an Asbo on the repeated offenders - if you can i.d. them.
If the park is owned by the council (or any identifiable owner), you can require them to erect a higher fence to abate a nuisance on their land or in extremis, close the park altogether. You'd need to consult a solicitor on these options to work out the best way to approach it.

Answer 6

Reading that has angered me beyond belief, I'd get so mad! I don't know if it's legal, but I've seen many houses around here with it, so there obviously isn't a problem with it...it's your house, and if people don't want to get hurt, then they shouldn't be climbing up your walls!! Get some cement, paste it along the top of your wall, then get some thick broken glass and securely fit it in. Make sure you supervise the wall until it's dry and set, because bits could fall into your garden etc.

Answer 7

legally you cant put anything unatural on the top of your wall wire or glass etc you can put trellis studded to the wall to raise its height up to two meters in u.k or better get some wild rose bushes plant them against the wall this is not regarded as hedging and will stop them coming over as it grows up and over the wall.

Answer 8

most hardware stores sell either razorwire or plastic spike strips that should stop climbers. A sign reading 'all footballs that land on this property will be punctured' should make them think twice. Legally, if they kick a football onto your property and you do have such signs, they have accepted this as a condition of kicking the ball onto your property! Brilliant!

Answer 9

Electric Fence

Answer 10

There is a tar or oil that you can buy to paint the top of your wall, it covers the persons clothes in it if they try to climb the wall.
The broken glass idea is illegal in the UK