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AIBU?

Could you shop your children to the police?

81 replies

FairyFluffbum · 05/01/2016 07:20

After a middle aged man was attacked news year eve after saying happy new year to his neighbour he was attacked by a gang of youths.
He is in intensive care but at the moment is stable

As it stands they youths have yet to be identified and the police are asking for information.

Surely ONE parent must have a suspicion or know and is keeping quiet.

Now I've just read about the two girls putting superglue on a toilet seat for a "joke"

I think children are becoming bolder in these years as no one disciplines them anymore and if anyone else dares to, the parents have a go.

So this brings me back around.

If you found out your child had done criminal activity, would you tell the police?

I look at my two and I know they trust me more than anything in the world but I would be the first to call them. I do accept "but they are children"

As j child I never attacked an adult, robbed a shop, mugged another child or even thought about/threatened rape.

OP posts:
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honeysucklejasmine · 05/01/2016 07:22

Yes, of course, for a serious crime. And probably for a less serious one too, so they didn't do it a second time.

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Gileswithachainsaw · 05/01/2016 07:24

I would sincerely hope I could. I really do. I don't think.i could cover for them doing something like that. and I would really worry that me enabling them.to get away with it even once would lead to them thinking it's ok to carry on.

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LaContessaDiPlump · 05/01/2016 07:26

I would. My aunt did, when her son was driving around with no driving experience or car insurance.....

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CheerfulYank · 05/01/2016 07:26

I absolutely would.

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Lweji · 05/01/2016 07:34

To start with your post, unless there is widely available footage it's not likely that a parent will necessarily know.
Then, I don't think these events are a modern problem. There have always been thugs and children that can't be dealt with.
Not sure what you mean by disciplined, but raising kind children isn't necessarily linked to disciplining. It starts from example and rewarding good behavior.

Would I report my child to the police? I'd like to think I'd give them the option of do it themselves first. And that ultimately yes. Buy certainly not excuse with being children.

Finally, well done for having been a child who hasn't done any of those things. As most haven't and most still don't.
Perhaps you need to be in contact with some children, young people, and see that they are not all thugs these days. Quite the opposite.

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theycallmemellojello · 05/01/2016 07:35

I wouldn't. I'd obviously be very upset if my son committed a serious crime, but I'd never be able to turn him in, or testify against him, etc.

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JE1234 · 05/01/2016 07:36

I would, the law isn't optional. If they choose to break it then they will pay the consequences. I just asked my DSS and my oldest DC what they thought my answer to that would be and they were both correct. I wouldn't protect a criminal, no matter who they were. I love my kids but instilling morality in them is a huge part of my job.

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ThumbWitchesAbroad · 05/01/2016 07:37

Yes I would. Or rather, I believe I would - as they're still very small and I hope I'd never have to (don't we all!). But yes, I think I would.

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Cutecat78 · 05/01/2016 07:50

I did.

DS1 was 12 and got caught shoplifting but the ship owner didn't call the police.

I called the local PCSO and they came round and gave him a bollocking (he thought they were police as in uniform).

He is now 18 and has not reoffended Grin

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Cutecat78 · 05/01/2016 07:51

Shop owner Blush there was no ship involved.

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Thatbloodydog · 05/01/2016 07:52

I know it's not the same thing (at all!) but when I was about 4, I stole a load of stationary and sweets from our local shop. My parents found out when we got home ('Thatbloodydog, how did you get all those things you've been longing over for weeks?' 'Errr...') so I got taken back to the shop the next day and my parents rang my uncles girlfriend at the time who was a WPC and she met us at the shop in her uniform.

Frightened the living day lights out of me. And I haven't stolen anything since.

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Liberated71 · 05/01/2016 07:53

I took DS2 to the police as he was stealing from me. The PCSOs were great - tho he has stolen from me again since Confused

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Hihohoho1 · 05/01/2016 07:53

I think the cliche that kids of today are far worse than we were is bollocks actually op.

Looking at my 4 teens and older kids they were in friendship groups that were far far more supportive than mine or dhs were at school.

In the 70s/80s teachers bullied and hit you and totally ignored peer bullying.

There have always been crap parents and there have always been nasty teenagers. Most arnt.

Would I shop my child? I don't think anyone can really answer that one until in that position.

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SweetAdeline · 05/01/2016 08:00

For both the examples in the OP I'd like to think I would but I wouldn't for something like shoplifting, graffiti, drug use etc. These days records are permanent (even for juveniles I think) and I don't think having a permanent black mark on their police record is fair for what would have previously been considered youthful indiscretion.

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MrsGradyOldLady · 05/01/2016 08:03

I honestly don't know. I just can't envisage them ever doing anything wrong so I don't know how I'd feel. My eldest are 15 and are lovely, kind human beings so I can't even imagine them stealing a chocolate bar - never mind beating someone up.

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ghostspirit · 05/01/2016 08:06

i know of a family who would never tell her kids of. once her child had mine round the throat they were about 7 years old so young but he was being pretty rough. so i mentioned it to his mum and she had a go at me about it :/ and he was always fighting or verbally fighting with neighbours etc... her son is now in prison for killing someone by stabbing them.

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ghostspirit · 05/01/2016 08:06

sorry meant to say she as in the mum... not he

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Savagebeauty · 05/01/2016 08:08

Yes I would.
I would do it for anybody I knew, be it friend, colleague or other family member.

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Asskicker · 05/01/2016 08:15

Yes I would. I do t see how anyone can expect the law to apply to everyone else and not to their kids.

Would you want the police involved if you were the victim of any of these crimes?

If you would but openly admit you wouldn't call the police in your own kids, your a hypocrite.

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Asskicker · 05/01/2016 08:16

And kids aren't worse.

We here more though as the news reports everything to fill up the new 25hour news culture.

A girl being glued to a toilet wouldn't have made news on the 80s/90s.

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Asskicker · 05/01/2016 08:17

Ffs hear not here

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Aeroflotgirl · 05/01/2016 08:19

Yes of course I would in a heartbeat, my role of a parent never stops.

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GloGirl · 05/01/2016 08:28

I would. I live in the UK at worse you are talking about prison not death.

That being said my BIL got caught for a first offence and was given quite a harsh sentence. I'd feel pretty rotten if I had dobbed him in! Anything involving pain on someone's behalf if they weren't making amends I'm sure I would.

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Birdsgottafly · 05/01/2016 08:29

In all honesty it depends on the crime and circumstances.

If children or a nasty sexual assault was the reason, then I wouldn't hesitate.

A local young man has just gone to prison for knocking down and killing a elderly lady, who was on a mobility scooter. It was totally his fault, he was speeding etc.

Two of his family members and one of his friends had reported him (he fled the scene). They all said that they couldn't live with him possibly killing a child.

That's for their sakes though, clear conscience, not getting the backlash of them knowing etc, not for the victim or society.

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Arfarfanarf · 05/01/2016 08:30

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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