I apparently over-reacted by calling 101.

[Scabetty]

This is more a 'was I' than 'am I' as I have already reported this to 101.

Last night, around 6 pm, there was a light knock on the front door followed by tapping on the front window. When I opened the door a child od about 6 yo was standing in pink pjs singing I wish you a Merry Christmas. The child was wearing tinsel on their head. I said they were a little early for Christmas and they said they were going to Spain next week lol. Another child walked across my drive having been at my neighbours to the left. Across the road was a third child. All were under 10 yo imho. I asked The 6 yo where they lived and where their mum or dad were and they said round the corner. There are no houses round the corner and there were no parents in sight. The 6 yo was actually a small boy even though pjs suggested otherwise. I politely said goodbye and gave no money. I called 101 to report this as I was concerned - they were not even staying together as a group.

I bumped in to neighbour to my left this morning and mentioned I called 101. They seemed surprised and said "don't you know they were Irish travellers?" As though that explains it and I am over-reacting. To me it was neglect and abuse.Did I over-react?

[SunnyBaudelaire]

maybe you did maybe you didn't.....
still they were begging door to door right?
Maybe they need a visit from SS like the rest of us have.

[NoSundayWorkingPlease]

still they were begging door to door right?Maybe they need a visit from SS like the rest of us have

It doesn't seem much done now but I used to go carolling all the time aged 10/11...the Xmas equivalent of Halloween.

In this situation (weeks before Xmas, pj's, too young to be out alone) then I would be concerned...but generally I don't see carolling as something worthy of SS because they're 'begging'.

[WorraLiberty]

Yes, I think calling the Police to report extremely early Carol singers trying their luck, is OTT.

[NoSundayWorkingPlease]

I actually think yabu...not for calling 101 but for 'politely closing the door'.

My ds1 is 6 and I can't imagine shutting the door on any 6 year old in this situation tbh.

[Vivacia]

What would you do NoSunday?

[Scabetty]

How would I restrain the child? I was not calling to report 'beggars' but unaccompanied children.

[PuppyMonkey]

Oh dear, I presume you also called 101 when you got a load of trick or treaters on Halloween?

[DennyDifferent]

I don't think it was OTT, children unattended in their PJs, knocking doors is just a dangerous thing for them to be doing. Its nothing to do with the caroling is it, its the lack of care that at best shows a huge lack of judgement on the parent's part and at worst was the parents putting their DCs at risk deliberately to earn a few pence.
I'm a teacher and if I heard about this in a professional capacity I would fill out a form and hand it to the CPO, you did the non-professional equivalent IMO. If the police are not concerned they will drop it, so no harm done. It could be there are already professionals involved or they might be at some point and now this is a little bit of extra information logged on the system.

[Scabetty]

Puppy monkey are you always so daft?

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I agree WITH denny

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

No idea where caps came from

[Wowthishurtsalot]

Unaccompanied children under 10 out in the dark yes Id have called 101 and sought advice especially if they bowled up in their PJs because no matter how street savvy they may be they're still at risk of being hit by a car or just at risk in general.

[PuppyMonkey]

Yes

[WorraLiberty]

3 kids around the age of 10 and under (in your opinion) being out at 6pm in the evening, is not a case for reporting 'unaccompanied children'.

Unless there is now an early evening curfew in the UK?

Yes, it was cheeky of them to chance their arm at Carol singing in November, but I used to try that with my friends as a kid, and the neighbours would just tell us to come back at Christmas.

I can't imagine them calling the Police?!

[Nanny0gg]

Most children of that age at Hallowe'en would be accompanied by their parents.

You were worried (rightly imo) OP and ringing 101 to hand over to professionals was the right thing to do - they can decide on the urgency or not of the situation.

Talk about some people wilfully missing the point ...

[Methe]

If they were Irish travellers social services won't get involved, and nor will the police.

[WooWooOwl]

I don't think you overreacted, children shouldn't be knocking on people's doors, unaccompanied and trying to get money.

[PuppyMonkey]

(Loads of kids under 10 unaccompanied round here on Halloween).

[Wowthishurtsalot]

6pm isn't late in the grand scheme of things but I don't know about your area but it's pitch black at that time round here. Kids arent the most risk aware of creatures and things like crossing a road becomes so much more dangerous in the dark

[usualsuspect333]

I agree with Worra.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I just read that there were 2 other kids there. In that case I would be less worried tbh. Had thought it was a 6 year old alone.

[MushroomSoup]

I think you did right.

[PuppyMonkey]

What did 101 say?