I, 45M was down by the seaside/beach. It was a cloudy but warm day and the tide was high.

Kids were jumping off a small pier. It looked awesome, they were having the time of their lives.

Up to 30 would walk out at at time in different groups and leap or backflip off and float 150ft in to the beach. I took a photo of the pier from the beach.

My father in law a couple of days ago had said 'they're not allowed to do that, its illegal'

I walked out the pier looking for signs banning jumping from the pier of which there were none. At the end of the pier there were tiny signs (5 inches) saying no diving - makes sense, so you don't break you neck.

I got my camera out to take some photos of the scene and maybe grab a cool pic of them jumping.

Being quite a drop there were no little kids they were all 12+, boys/girls and some young men, maybe older brothers.

I watched for a few minutes (<5), and a group of older kids moved away from me to the other side of the pier. I had my phone out but hadn't taken any photos and hadn't directed my phone towards anyone, did not look directly at anyone and mainly watched people jump and plunge into the water. At this stage I already thought I wouldn't/shouldn't take any photos as I wondered if these kids thought I might be filming/taking photos of them to tell rangers/police about what others think is not permitted.

I started walking slowly back to shore and a teenage boy says 'hey mate have you got kids here?' I said, 'no why is that?' Now I was worried that they thought I was taking pictures of kids.

He ran off. I stopped at the bottom of the pier to have another look around and three of the bigger boys (1 man I guess) surrounded me, one directly approaching with his camera into my face, the biggest blocked my exit from the pier and said "you're not going anywhere till the police arrive".

2 of them were visibly trembling with anger (?fear) I asked what was up and said I was just enjoying seeing people have fun since not much is allowed these days. They said 'bullshit, you were taking photos of kids and girls' 'he doesn't even have any kids here' I calmly said I wasn't and thought it was great that they could still jump the pier.

'Show us your phone' Obviously I was under no obligation too, but I also had nothing to hide, so showed them that there were no photos. I hoped this would be enough to diffuse if I remained calm and didn't argue or run off.

'Go to the recently deleted!' one of them yells (not that i'd had time to delete nor do I even know where that folder is, but they did). Nothing there obviously. Note that they had obviously watched me this whole time and I hadn't even been on my phone let alone been able to delete.

'Where's ya hidden folder then?!" I just told them that I didn't even know there was one or how to do it...

They find the empty hidden folder, I told them that I honestly was just enjoying the scene and am sorry it made them uncomfortable. I'd seriously not even looked at the girls, just marvelled at one teenage boy do a backflip into the ocean. I had no sunglasses or hat so couldn't hide my gaze or line of vision. It was just bizarre. But they were obviously affronted by me, and I was scared shitless of them!

Thankfully they backed off, and actually shook my hand and apologised 'But you can see where we're coming from right? (I guess an overweight middle aged man can't enjoy the seaside..... They weren't to know that I'm also married with children and had a respected job)

But what if they hadn't backed off? What if I'd reacted differently? and they'd attacked me, or held me until police arrive - that would be great trying to explain to passers by and wife/family.

Is reality so warped now that people feel it is there right or obligation to confront strangers about perceived indiscretions with threats of violence and/or police? While I can see it from their point of view, is it not my right to enjoy the seaside as a man or anyone and take some scenic photos without being accused of being a paedophile and nearly being subject to a citizens arrest and police involvement. What would have happened if I hadn't cooperated or argued back - been assaulted/detained for committing no crime?

Are these kids also so indoctrinated of their own rights and need for consent for anything that they will react aggressively to perceived threats - if i'd resisted and they'd assaulted me they would have been the ones in trouble. I'm sounding like and old man....

TL:DR Enjoyed watching people jumping off a pier, had my phone out and was accused of taking photos of young girls, nearly detained/beaten up/had the police called on me.