Witnessed fight and nobody did anything

A man headbutted a woman. Other men had to sit on him to stop him.

Mumsnet can we do something about the openly racist user please?
I hope you never experience the hate and discrimination you are spreading x

Of course it’s not more acceptable.

This is about the very possible, violent repercussions from travellers.

It’s not racist to acknowledge that. It’s face. You do not want them at your door.

You are not being serious surely
Racist language
you are disgusting

Your husband was right

I've worked next to a traveller camp and we witnessed similar. (A woman getting punched)
We ignored it and left them to it, because it wasn't worth the retaliation.

The police wouldn't come. The only emergency services we ever saw were the fire brigade (who really gave zero fucks) whenever they were burning plastics off stolen copper wire.

He probably just wanted her to get away from her front door and stop advertising it.

If my DH told me not to report that to the police I’d be rethinking the relationship

I wouldn’t want him to get involved but report it yes.

This

i once called the police on travellers when working in a pub, that night every window in the pub was smashed in.

id never dream of getting in the middle of a traveller fight and I’d go mad if my DH did.

its not nice seeing a woman attacked but she was being taken care of and there were others involved. The chances are she would have turned on any outsider who tried helping.

How do you know the police came out sharpish for a racist comment?

There are plenty of crimes the police don’t attend. It’s risk based

Well yes, as a crime had been committed - a woman was assaulted!

The police came out sharpish for an alleged racist comment when poor Henry Nowak was murdered.

I saw two guys kicking the hell out of another guy who was curled up in a ball on the ground about 5yrs ago. I didn't think, I marched out and gave them a verbal sorting out. No one else did anything. It was only later that I thought that wasn't my brightest idea ever!

I’ve heard similar. I wouldn’t want any man to try and jump in in that scenario and I know that’s really shocking to say.

Did you video it? This would have been a perfect time to have got one of you to video, maybe through the top window, one of you ring the police. Then the police would have evidence to act on.

Your husband may be well aware of the consequences of getting involved with that community. Probably trying to protect you.

You did the right thing by calling the police but your husband is right to be cautious. I know someone who was beaten up by a traveller and left unconscious in the street. He didn't tell the police who did it because he said if you grass to the police they will come round and burn your house down 🤷‍♀️

i live in a small block of flats and a group of men broke into our communal back garden with knives and weapons looking for my neighbour. I was on the phone to police but as soon as this group walked off down the street about 10 mins later they couldn’t care less. Next time I’ll say they have a gun and maybe they’ll do something about it.

They were travelers. You were stood in the doorway of your own home, advertising the fact that you were calling the police. You’ve put yourself and your own family in danger.

Your husband was right.

I wouldn't hold it against him. He saw with his own eyes who they might be and probably thought what's the point.

Did you describe them to the police as possibly being from the Travelling community? Could be why they didn't respond?

Quite honestly I wouldn't want to tackle them - especially if they are travellers, they could have knives or anything. Your husband might have been killed.

In the words of Phil Lynnot

Friday night, they'll be dressed to kill
Down at Dino's Bar 'n' Grill
The drink will flow and blood will spill
And if the boys want to fight, you better let 'em
That jukebox in the corner blastin' out my favourite song
The nights are getting warmer, it won't be long
Won't be long 'til the summer comes
Now that the boys are here again

The boys are back in town, the boys are back in town
The boys are back in town, the boys are back in town
The boys are back in town, the boys are back in town
The boys are back in town, the boys are back in town

It's what they do.😀

It's not assault if the participants are all consenting. It's affray possibly.

But traveller men do fight. There's little point trying to nick them for it as all involved consent and aren't going to try and get eachother arrested over it.

Nonsense

"Husband is behind me (we are by our front door) telling me to get off the phone and stay out of it!!"

I know it's often commented on here that women must be good at assessing risks due the dangers posed by men.

In this case, I think your husband assessed the risk of the situation better than you did. He cannot intervene in this situation as for the vast majority of men it is unacceptable to assault a women and even many domestic abusers will not assault women in public.

Noone in that group would likely have qualms about assaulting him and likely would see anyone intervening in any way as an interfering outsider.

If you or he had been seen making that phone call there was a good chance someone in the group would have objected and assaulted one or both of you. Who was there to intervene if that happened?

You see it as him being unconcerned about a woman stranger being assaulted - even though you could both see there were people trying to stop him.

He was just trying to keep you both safe. You have the moral satisfaction of telling yourself you did the right thing; but what effect did your call really have?

Was it worth risking your safety? And let's be honest ; if there was a confrontation your husband would have taken the brunt of it.