Winter Garden gatherings Should Parents be concerned?

[duckweed]

I just wondered about the huge gatherings of teenagers in the Peace Gardens and Winter Gardens. Has anyone had bad experiences having been part of this network? Either those who go there or parents whose children have gone there? What sort of things go on there? I'm not someone who instantly throws my hands up in horror when more than two children gather together but I wonder if there are any predators in amongst such a large group of teenagers?

[alchresearch]

I'd think a predator would be easy to spot:

 

http://www.ee.duke.edu/~drsmith/cloaking/predator.jpg

[duckweed]

This is a serious query please. I'm wondering about drugs, theft, child prostitution type of predators.

[40summat]

I would have thought teenagers are safer in large groups.

[duckweed]

What makes you think that? Predators make friends and then arrange a meeting elsewhere. I'm not saying it does happen at the Winter Gardens. I just wondered if anyone had heard anything that had caused them disquiet?

[scottf]

not really- thats what kids do??? hang around in public places?

 

To me you just sound like your scaremongering, there just having a laugh- not getting involved in child prostitution.

[Titian]

It's not the teenagers you need to worry about. I'm not one for buying into fear or hysteria but I do have it on very good authority that the Peace gardens is a stomping ground for certain undesirables. Don't let your young children go unclothed in the fountains. Unless you don't mind voyeurs.

[boyfriday]

I'm not someone who instantly throws my hands up in horror when more than two children gather together but I wonder if there are any predators in amongst such a large group of teenagers?

 

...what do you mean by predator?

[boyfriday]

This is a serious query please. I'm wondering about drugs, theft, child prostitution type of predators.

 

Oops, didn't see that post.

[Weathergirl]

I go past every Saturday and its mostly emos (always depressed peeps if you want to put it like that) (well its how peeps see them these days) but it stops me going on there! I hope they dont take over it at the summer.