To think it was not an overreaction to call the police?

An accident isn't a legal term, Did the incident happen? Who was responsible?
It's an incident.
I hope to got in trouble for refusing to provide his details.

If he’s caused serious injury he’d be liable!

If someone is committing a crime or you have reason to believe they are about to commit one then you call 999, surely?

Sorry HRFT
Failing to stop at the scene of an accident
Failing to exchange details etc

Are usually indicators of other issues
Eg. No insurance, no licence, drink, drugs or involvement in other crimes.
Basically sign of someone with something yo hide. This is likely why police response seemed disproportionate and I'm sure if there was something else urgent they would have diverted away.

As former civi cops op I would have no issue with the OP reporting such incident on 999.
Had the bad dude exchanged details civily, accepted responsibility or ge really been a better person likely 101 would be better but injuries+kids = massive adrenaline kick =999

Sounds like a nice example of police being available to deal with a relatively minor issue in a timely manner! That won't get any traction.

His car did make contact though, so he technically hit her…. If he then drove off it was a hit and run….

You made the right call imo… non urgent police would’ve been more for if he’d already driven off and you wanted to report the incident. The fact the crime was still in process (he was going to drive off after hitting a child) means that this was a crime in progress and 999 was absolutely appropriate! Especially since he may have been drunk driving and about to speed off and hit someone else!… Also at the time you would not have known that her foot / ankle wasn’t more seriously damaged! She’s incredibly lucky !! Hopefully this idiot will be more careful in future!!

Ridiculous to call it a hit and run

Why was your daughter so close to a moving car and why was nobody watching her? You must have heard the engine start.

You think that i am ridiculous because I cited the law and actions required to be taken by law?! Interesting

I wondered that

Why did you want his details anyway?
What were you going to do with them?

You did the right thing in that situation. I once rang 101 to report someone driving dangerously (had not even committed a crime at this point - like running over a child’s foot!!!) and was told off because I should’ve rang 999 to get someone there straight away to speak to them and because it was the non emergency number and I was on hold for so long they wouldn’t be able to find them now. You had a situation that needed dealing with there and then, it may not be an ‘emergency’ but it required police presence.

These comments are so bizarre!

He ran over a child's foot. Heard her scream. Stopped the car. Refused to give details. Got all shirty with the OP.

I would have called 999 too. And the dispatcher told her it was a police matter.

OP it must be hard second guessing yourself but the only person that mattered in that moment was your young child who had just been hurt.

I'm more concerned her dad was trying to say during the call it didn't need the police in this scenario! That's the bizarre reaction here IMO.

What is there to reflect. She called 999 and the emergency operator deemed it OK and told her it was indeed a police matter. These people are trained to answer 999 calls and know what they are doing and if they deemed it a police matter then that is what it is. The prompt response of the police also indicates that she made the right call. If this driver had been drinking and unfit to drive and caused another accident people would be berating her for not phoning the police.

HTH

He is the driver of the vehicle and he is responsible for ensuring it is safe to move his vehicle. You are blaming this woman when it is his responsibility to ensure it is saf and to move. She's already said theyd been sat in the vehicle for some time. If he's so distracted by loud music, he shouldn't be driving.

Your desire to find excuses for the man who was driving the car that hit a child and then refused to provide his details is absurd. Even more so when you are laying into the mother of the child for not being right next to her child. The child is old enough to enter a vehicle in her own. She didn't run into a road, the vehicle adjacent was stationary and the whole fuss would have been avoided if he'd just handed over his details, which he is obliged to do.

Sure, it's potentially debatable if she should have rung 999, but since the 999 operator seemed satisfied with the matter then it's a bit of a moot point. Ultimately, if someone has moved from stationary, hit a child and then reacted as this man has, it's questionable if he is fit to drive i.e. Has been drinming/insured/has a licence etc and no doubt that's why the police felt it was suitable for a swift response. I imagine you'd be the first to blame the OP, asking why she didn't call the police, if she'd let him drive off and then it turned out he was over the limit and ploughed into a family.

His actions caused the accident.
His reaction resulted in hers and the need to call the police.

I totally agree with you.

I would probably be slightly panicked and call 999 rather than 111 if something like this happened.
presumably 999 call handlers have the option to pass the call to the 111 team, or treat the matter with the urgency they deem it requires?

You did the right thing OP!

Of course you didn't overreact! Your child was injured. He would not provide the legally required details. He was an arse who without your actions would doubtless carry on in a negligent way likely causing harm to others. The police may well prosecute for a driving offence. Hope they do.

If it makes you feel any better. I called 111 when my daughter was hit by a car (small injury, no medical attention needed) in June last year. I’m still waiting do them to call back..

There’s nothing to say that the injury wouldn’t turn out to be worse than first thought. In which case, the driver would have gone, and no way to find him. Is it really worth taking that chance? I think not. He was uncooperative until police were mentioned, so he knew he was in the wrong.

Hit and Run? Don’t be so ridiculous

It's literally a hit and run accident / criminal offence. The child was injured. By law (Act 1988) the driver should provide his details (he refused) and police should be notified within 24 hours.

999 is for emergencies ONLY. You should not have rung the number as those resources need to be kept for people who really need them. If your situation doesn't require blue lights, do not call it. You can always call the 101 non emergency police number if you feel appropriate. So in terms of calling 999, yes, you were completely unreasonable or irresponsible.

And yes, the driver is at fault. However, he is human, mistakes are made. You knew there were people in the car (so presumably leaving soon), and they may be distracted with the music on, and your child is small so harder to spot. In this situation I would not have left a young child unattended in what you yourself decribed as a narrow space next to an occupied vehicle. I would have waited the minute it took my child to climb in, or, have her climb across from the other side.

I hope your daughter is okay mentally and physically, and I hope you reflect.