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Original poster

Would you get into trouble for this?

113 replies

ECJW98 · 11/12/2024 17:04

Something that happened at my sister’s work today… they found a car with 2 young children locked inside (aged around 4-5 years old), they checked the CCTV and they had been left there for approximately 4 hours at this point with no-one coming back to check on them.

They rang the police (as you do!) and around an hour later, they still hadn’t arrived as they said they was “very busy”. The children were hysterical at this point but no-one would step in and smash the windows to get them out because they were scared about getting into trouble and having charges pressed against them.

I mean, if that was me, I would have smashed the windows and faced the consequences later on but it got me thinking - based on these circumstances and the fact that 2 young children were at risk - would someone get into trouble if they did this to rescue them?

OP posts:
MereDintofPandiculation · 11/12/2024 20:28

UndeniablyGenX · 11/12/2024 18:24

Don't cars have child locks any more?

Show quote history

They’ve never had child locks at the front. If the child can get out of its car seat, persuade it to move to the front and open the door.

Or call a garage, as you would if you locked your car hey inside

SuperfluousHen · 11/12/2024 20:27

SaagAloopa · 11/12/2024 19:43

I'd have tried to see if the kids could open the front door from the inside. Or ask the police on the phone if you should smash the window. But you'd have to be careful not to hurt the kids. In all honesty they were very upset but they don't sound like they were in actual danger at that stage as everyone was keeping an eye on the car? If they looked in danger then the police would have come quicker I'd imagine. They don't give a crap if someone is distressed anymore they don't have time or resources they only care if you're about to die of a crime

Maybe tell the police someone had tweeted hurty words? That might have got a quicker response 😡

SuperfluousHen · 11/12/2024 20:25

Did they ring 999?
I would have smashed a window

SuperfluousHen · 11/12/2024 20:25

SnoopysHoose · 11/12/2024 18:22

Why did nobody tell the kids to open a door? Even if your car is locked it can be opened from inside.

Child locks? Strapped into car seats? 🤷🏼‍♀️

NoEscapingMe · 11/12/2024 20:24

I'd have requested the fire service

GreyBlackBay · 11/12/2024 20:22

When the police give a shit response to something like this you need to get straight on twitter tagging them, your mp, the local paper, etc. That'll get them moving.

I'd have smashed the window. You would only get into trouble if the owner pressed charges, and hopefully the owner would be relieved - presumably something had happened to them.

UnhappyAndYouKnowIt · 11/12/2024 20:16

If the kids were strapped in to car seats they might not have been able to move around and open the lock.

I feel like 5 hours in this weather is too long to be safe. If the police couldn't come, I would probably ask if any other first responders could attend or at least offer advice over the phone.

MyrtleStrumpet · 11/12/2024 19:57

I think they do care, but they're aren't enough police officers due to massive cuts (over 20,000) under the Tories. It takes time to build that up again.

SaagAloopa · 11/12/2024 19:43

I'd have tried to see if the kids could open the front door from the inside. Or ask the police on the phone if you should smash the window. But you'd have to be careful not to hurt the kids. In all honesty they were very upset but they don't sound like they were in actual danger at that stage as everyone was keeping an eye on the car? If they looked in danger then the police would have come quicker I'd imagine. They don't give a crap if someone is distressed anymore they don't have time or resources they only care if you're about to die of a crime

berksandbeyond · 11/12/2024 19:38

I would have been calling the police to let them know I was smashing the window in. I hope the kids are ok 😔

Kinneddar · 11/12/2024 19:21

HelpMeGetThrough · 11/12/2024 18:29

I bet Fire and Rescue would have turned out far quicker than the Police.

Not necessarily. My brothers a Firefighter & they don't turn out for calls like that anymore

DarkAndTwisties · 11/12/2024 19:20

If people were worried about breaking the window, why didn't they call the police back and say "is breaking the window the right thing to do, these children are in distress?" I assume (hope!) they'd have been told to go ahead. And then they'd have had that back up of "the police said it was fine" if that's what they were worried about.

Mochudubh · 11/12/2024 19:11

When we bought our 2nd hand car (Vauxhall), the dealer told us not to deadlock it with someone inside as they wouldn't be able to get out in an emergency..

LynetteScavo · 11/12/2024 18:36

I would have tried to smash the window while on the phone to the police - I'm not even sure of the best way to smash a car window. But if I knew they had been there that long and they were distressed I don't think I could just leave them. I'd be willing to go to court to explain my actions.

HPandthelastwish · 11/12/2024 18:35

@coldinbuxton well people do don't they, children fall asleep in the back, parent preoccupied with work or other life stresses in particularly likely if they are dealing with a big stress like grieving people become forgetful. I've never done it but it isn't a jump to think that someone might.

itsgettingweird · 11/12/2024 18:32

Yes I'd have tried to talk them into opening the door or smashed the window.

You have no idea why they are there and therefore how long they'd be there for.

If the parent had been taken in for a medical emergency (unconscious) it could have been days. Same if they had been abandoned.

Glitchymn1 · 11/12/2024 18:32

It’s criminal damage.

I’d break the window for a dog, never mind a child.

Resilienceisimportant · 11/12/2024 18:30

I think you can smash a window in emergency circumstances. I mean what judge in the world is going to convict you.

Shame on the police for taking an hour to respond!!!!

HelpMeGetThrough · 11/12/2024 18:29

I bet Fire and Rescue would have turned out far quicker than the Police.

coldinbuxton · 11/12/2024 18:29

HPandthelastwish · 11/12/2024 17:10

It's quite possible the parent forgot they were in the car when they parked if they were very quiet or had had a medical emergency themselves after 'popping' to the shop.

I can't imagine you'd get into any trouble, you could evidence the CCTV that they had been there along time. What I might have done is ring back on the non-emergency number and informed the person on the other end of what I was about to do as they would need to send an officer / social worker to collect the children.

How can you "forget" about 2 young children between aged 4-6 for 4 hours Confused

UndeniablyGenX · 11/12/2024 18:27

Porkyporkchop · 11/12/2024 18:26

Not usually on the front doors, driver and passenger

Show quote history

Ah - never checked ours, thanks.

Porkyporkchop · 11/12/2024 18:26

UndeniablyGenX · 11/12/2024 18:24

Don't cars have child locks any more?

Show quote history

Not usually on the front doors, driver and passenger

UndeniablyGenX · 11/12/2024 18:24

SnoopysHoose · 11/12/2024 18:22

Why did nobody tell the kids to open a door? Even if your car is locked it can be opened from inside.

Don't cars have child locks any more?

SnoopysHoose · 11/12/2024 18:22

Why did nobody tell the kids to open a door? Even if your car is locked it can be opened from inside.

Pandasnacks · 11/12/2024 18:08

Did someone try and talk them into unlocking the car atleast? Surprised they couldn't unlock a door themselves at those ages.

I'd have broken a window if needed though