Aibu to feel very sorry for Ben & Marina Fogle who were wrongly reported to social services by a neighbour

Because you said that the person who reported it did so after hearing raised voices. They couldn't have done, since BF and family were away on holiday at the time, hence it being a false and malicious report.

I think social services having to even make a phone call for the KA case is overkill, but responding to a report about shouting is different, as that could have been something bad.
I've had a lot of malicious reports made about me (by my ex and his parents, when we were going through a very bad custody battle), it was horrible, very very horrible, but the accusations were about serious stuff so of course I understood that the social workers had to investigate, even when they knew me and knew it was most likely malicious, they still had to investigate each time because they were alleging really bad things.

I can tell just by reading your posts that you have absolutely no involvement in child safeguarding whatsoever.

You simply cannot judge whether someone is a good parent or an abuser by their appearance. You just can't. It's a very dangerous way of thinking.

And well presented, middle-class abusive parents are so much more difficult to identify and investigate because of the very bias you are showing. There is as much abuse in middle class families as in working class ones. But it's better hidden.

I'd also like to know who these numerous famous, well off people are and who SS didn't investigate because they were investigating them as the easy option instead.

You must be very confident of your facts to make such a bold claim.

Or you're just making it up.

As a SW I have investigated all shapes sizes and classes of people....no discrimination from me or the rest of my team.

I get it, I feel for the Fogles and for Kirsty although I disagree with her about almost everything else.

We had a social worker here after an incident with a pissed teenager and she agreed there should be no further action, however, her request was that I write and say "I don't give consent for you to contact other agencies" which would have made me look uncooperative to anyone reading the file.

I wrote saying "the following xxx is in place as discussed and you agreed that we don't need to do anything differently and that it would not be a good use of resources to refer us to other agencies since if you were to refer us their suggestions would likely cover everything we're already doing" - ETA I just checked, she actually emailed me saying "please confirm you don't consent" - WTAF?

It's total bullshit that I should have had to do that but I wasn't going to write to say I wasn't prepared to consent, why would I? What stupid advice.

Not really no. This was some weeks after the complaint as I understand it. So if I had been up to no good I could have continued to do so for a fairly prolonged period. The timing was purely to suit the social work team.

Absolutely this!

Exactly. She must be on Mumsnet with all the shock and the trembling.

This is a real issue, it's just not ok. It should be a crime to make malicious reports really.

Mistaken is very different from malicious.

I’ve had an SS call after a trip to A&E, I’m glad they check up, all it took was for me to explain how the situation happened and what steps I’d taken to prevent it happening again and the matter was closed, no doubt it remains on record.

Im not sure what outcome the person reporting Kirsty Alsop was expecting, SS are hardly likely to intervene for a 16 year old, what would they do, put him into a children's home where he'd be less safe?

There was a female MP reported to social services completely maliciously but it will remain on the children’s records.

This attitude baffles me.

Malicious reports are very stressful, it isn't a small matter.

How would you feel if a neighbour reported you maliciously and you were investigated, including upsetting interviews with your children?

Is there are a spate... or is simply that the vast majority of cases aren't newsworthy? You hear about the famous people are the worst cases. Not the thousands of daily stuff.

We shouldn't be glad when fictional reports are made, no.

Wet Bandits .Apologies! Of course thats not what I meant .Simply that there seems to be a spate of investigating famous well off parents .Obviously many men fit your DH appearance, and are perfectly good parents .Simply that if there was someone more macho in appearance, to a gentler look both suspected of child abuse they often seem to go for the softer option!

Well I'm sure it wasn't a pleasant experience for them but it was all sorted out quickly and I think it's good that Social Services will check out any worrying report even if you're rich and famous! The Fogles have dealt with much worse than this 😔

I think KA should be jailed forever! Not for letting her son travel through Europe though, but just because I cannot stand this horrible pompous twat of a woman and I think some jail time with some of us peasants would do her the world of good 😄
Ben Fogle is an absolute darling of a man and I won't hear a bad word against him 😊

Until they check, how do they know?

I doubt it. The entry requirement to do a Social Work degree is 3Bs at A level...

SS aren't in the habit of investigating anyone unless a report has been made against them. If a referral is made, they will investigate, regardless of their appearance. They don't target people at will based upon said appearance

So, on the basis of two incidents you've read about today - one recent and one historicai, you've decided that SS departments across the country have turned their attentions to high profile middle class celebs?

You can get trained if you think you'd be braver or more effective.

It’s good that the social services investigated. The allegations were false but it was good that this was checked up on. Money and fame was not a factor in the check by social services. They didn’t say oh wealthy family so it must be ok.