footballs kicked into my garden

[forgetful]

Where do I stand with neighbours who constantly play football in the back garden? These are not only kids (which wouldn't be so bad) but adults who when they get high constantly batter my fence and garden with balls. I am trying to grow my own and am fed up with balls damaging my plants and am fearful that I will have to replace my fence yet again. Can I hang on to the balls or not. I also have kids playing outside my house constantly battering the walls and windows with their balls and they just come into the garden and take their balls back. Any advice please.

[mollykins]

posssession is 9/10 of the law . . . . you have the ball, lock the gate, pretend to be out eventually they will get fed up of buying new balls.

[teacher1]

"posssession is 9/10 of the law" is not true. If you keep someone else's property .... it is theft.
What you need to do is keep an accurate record of every occasion that this happens .... days, date, time, etc, and if it contines to happen take your record to the police and explain it to them. They might then take some action.

[squarebear]

Possession is 9/10ths of the law? I'll remember that when I steal your car.

[MarkRae]

> posssession is 9/10 of the law

What utter drivel! Did you just make that up...?

[Old_Geezer]

It is a well known old saying.
Yeah I'd be in no hurry to be available to ask for the ball back.
I'm unsure about the legal position of not returning stuff though. Teachers confiscate things from naughty folk don't they ?
Try Citizen's Advice.

[LoftyLottie]

There is a saying that possession is 9/10 of the law Molly, but this is applicable to property. Keeping something of someone elses even if on your property is theft.

[cherrychapstick]

possession isn't 9/10 th of the law ..... just away to get myself a limo and will come and pick everyone up in it x see you soon x

[LoftyLottie]

Teachers have to give it back at the end of the day though Old Geezer, unless it is an illegal substance!

[MarkRae]

Just because something is "an old saying" doesn't make it true...

[cherrychapstick]

sorry meant to also add ,do what teacher has suggested and also go see c.a.b. as Markrae states

[supersuezy24]

"Possession is 9/10ths of the law? I'll remember that when I steal your car. "

Hilarious :)

[squarebear]

Aye fank you :-)

[cherrychapstick]

loftie my daughter phone was took from her , she was not using it at the time but the teacher knew she had it and asked for it , i was later phoned by my daughter using the school phone that i had to phone up for her to get it back

[supersuezy24]

Very clever squarebear x

[LoftyLottie]

Quote

"the original saying was by Lord Mansfield in 1774

the meaning is that physical possession is the best leverage and that it is more difficult to try to recover something than hold on to it. that is because a case needs to be proved 51/49 % in the claimants favour so there is a slight mathematical, but often substantial practical burden in recovering property.

[MarkRae]

That's absolutely correct. Utter garbage...

[LoftyLottie]

Hi Cherry. Yes, but the teacher could not have kept it, it had to be returned to the owner. It's like taking bags from people at a gig, they have to be given back otherwise it is theft.

[LoftyLottie]

Yes, Mark but as it implies the actual maths. doesn't matter, and the expression has been used far more in property disputes, i.e. land.

[LoftyLottie]

I've never heard it used with regards to footballs ;o)

[cherrychapstick]

so i could have just got her for theft as my daughter never got it back till the next night as when i had phoned straight back there was no answer and school was closing ,i phoned up the next day and was told they would put it through the system that i had phoned and she would receive her phone back that day when school finished .