Calls for catapult ban as slingshot-wielding youths target angry mother and her children when she challenges them over attacks on animals

Daily Mail​

07-06-2025

A campaigner is calling for a catapult ban after a group of boys turned their catapults on a mother after she challenged them for targeting animals.
Holly Collins was caught up in the shocking encounter in broad daylight on Sunday at St Clements Lake in Greenhithe, Kent, where she says catapults and ball bearings have become the weapons of choice for attacking ducks, swans, and even people.
She said: 'I pulled up outside their house, and there were teenagers aiming at ducks in the lake.
'I shouted at them, "You better not be hurting those ducks, because I'll call the police,' and they all started swearing at me."
Ms Collins estimated the boys to be around 12 or 13 years old and what started as an animal attack quickly escalated into a direct threat.
'I got back in the car and we drove off, but my son's friend had forgotten his phone, so we came back—and that's when they were all aiming the catapults at me,' she said.
'I had the window down with the kids in the car, and they hit it. Luckily, it missed me. Then they ran off.'
Ms Collins and her children were left 'shaken up' and 'out of sorts' by the encounter, just the latest in a growing pattern of catapult-related violence in the area.
The incident has now led to another resident and wildlife campaigner Carly Ahlen who says the yobs come to hurt the animals every weekend and has started a petition for a ban on the sale of catapults.
'After they tried to take a shot at Holly, I ran across to check in case they had managed to kill any ducks,' the 45-year-old said.
'They had run off, but we did circulate all around the lakes. I was very worried they had gone to Bluewater, because there are waterbirds there, and I was worried they were going to target them next.
'They had disappeared, but they could have gone into the shops by then, causing trouble and mischief.
'It's a weekly occurrence with no end in sight.'
Ms Ahlen, founder of the ornithology organisation Gabo Wildlife, also believes that the regularity of attacks has resulted in a decrease in the bird population at the lakes.
Last year, the mum-of-one was alerted to the killing of eight geese which had been deliberately hit in nearby Dartford.
And just a few months ago, a moorhen and a goose were shot and killed with ball bearings on the St Clements Lakes development.
Concerned neighbours have now set up a WhatsApp group to report incidents, which has around 300 members.
Locals say it's not just the ducks under attacks, it's the entire community, with frustrated residents saying it's a 'weekly occurrence' both at St Clements Lakes and the lakes at Bluewater Shopping Centre, with 'no end in sight'
A spokesperson for Kent Police said they were aware of the incident and details have been passed to local officers.
It's also understood that some of the boys' schools have been informed of the incident.
Locals say it's not just the ducks under attacks, it's the entire community, with frustrated residents saying it's a 'weekly occurrence' both at St Clements Lakes and the lakes at Bluewater Shopping Centre, with 'no end in sight'.
Anum Abid, who has lived by St Clements Lakes for seven years, says she's witnessed several attacks on wildlife in the area and has had enough.
'It's just ridiculous how bad it's getting,' she said. 'Everyone is just so fed up and frustrated.
'You'll see an average kid here wanting to throw stones at a bird for absolutely no reason whatsoever and the thing is they seem to have no fear of anything.
'They're very vile individuals, but it's not just one group of kids, though.. I feel like it's not even one age group.'
Ms Abid complained that residents felt they were responsible for policing the catapult-wielding youths.
'I don't understand why we are having to do this?' she said. 'We're not a law enforcement agency. They are breaking the law.
'We feel like we are just left to our own devices and there's only so much that we can do to try and protect the environment that we live in.'
The frustrated resident says despite provided lots of information, including photo and video evidence no serious action has been taken.
'I'm really sick and tired of nothing being done by anybody,' she continued.
'Law enforcement has done nothing.
'We, as local residents, are the ones who have to come in and intervene and stop these vile, horrendous kids.
'They have no fear of anything. They think this is entertainment because they tape it and put it on things like Snapchat.
'And not only do they have no repercussions, [no one is] banning these catapults.'
Ms Ahlen has now set up a petition calling for a ban on the sale of catapults.
'There's absolutely no reason children should be running around with them - it's madness,' Ms Ahlen said.
'If we can't ban the sale of catapults, we should definitely put an age restriction on them, so at least we can give police the power to make arrests or confiscate them.
'It's a daily occurrence now across Kent and London now - it's out of control.
'It's very awful to live in this small community where people are afraid to come out and stand up to them [the teenagers].
'The police don't come. Because these kids are not found or prosecuted, others think, 'We can get away with it'.
'It's an epidemic - swans all over Kent, London, are being targeted by kids posting this on social media.
'It's not going to stop until they are held accountable for these terrible things.'
Ms Abid added that the fact youths are now targeting local residents makes her feel 'unsafe'.
'They are now aiming and threatening people with it,' she said. 'I feel very unsafe here, to be honest.
'We keep raising this to the police and absolutely nothing happens - I don't understand like how much more noise needs to be created.
'If they are underage that's not an excuse. You are only grooming criminals for the future.
'And for people who don't care about animals, you have to understand that this behaviour is only going to progress to humans later.
'You might think you are safe, but you are not.'
A spokesperson for Kent Police said: 'Police are aware of concerns raised on June 1, concerning the behaviour of a group of people at a lake next to Castleridge Drive, Greenhithe.
'It is reported a catapult was aimed at wildlife and was also used to fire an object towards a car, which was not damaged.
'The group had left the scene when the catapult incidents were reported, and details have been passed to local officers.
'Enhanced patrols are operating in the area over the summer months and residents are encouraged to report anti-social behaviour to their local beat officer, PC Calum Andrews.'