It helps to find out the kids' names - then, when you pester the police, always give them their names.

I fell foul of a group of local youths a few years ago. One day I caught them beating up a smaller boy. When they saw me they shouted the usual abuse and then ran off leaving the little, snivelling wretch on the ground. I asked the said wretch if he was OK and then asked who him, "who was the older boy who was thumping you?" He said, "it's me bruvver!". He then gave me the lad's name and address.

After that I always gave that name and address to the police. It turned out that the lad's father was a police sergeant and the harrassment abruptly stopped!