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AIBU?

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Original poster

A policeman in the supermarket ,would you do this?

286 replies

girlfriend44 · 26/06/2026 13:48

This morning there was a policeman doing some shopping in the supermarket.

A family walked past and when the dad noticed the policeman in the aisle he said to his little girl.
Look there's a policeman. If your naughty round the supermarket he will take you away to prison. The little girl. Just listened and didn't say anything .
He made sure she saw the policeman and as said told her he would take her to prison if she was naughty.
The policeman never heard but I did . I was right by them
Would you do this?
AIBU to think it's a bit odd.

OP posts:
nocoolnamesleft · 26/06/2026 14:23

I once, at work, had a parent tell a child to be good or they’d have the doctor give them an injection. I think the idiot parent felt about 2 inches high by the time I had finished explaining how cruel it was to make it harder to treat their child, and how psychologically harmful it could be if they actually needed an injection, but assumed the parent had organised it to punish them.

SilenceInside · 26/06/2026 14:22

It's fairly common, so not odd in that sense. But it's shit parenting, to outsource your authority to another adult and to use threats of punishment to try to get good behaviour.

I also wouldn't encourage total acceptance that someone who appears to be a police officer is automatically a trusted adult.

Jellycatspyjamas · 26/06/2026 14:22

BellaDinge · 26/06/2026 14:13

Yes, as I said. It’s crappy in a way.

would I say it? No.

am I Pearl Clutching over it? No.

Show quote history

I’m not clutching any pearls either. The OP asked if was ok, and it isn’t.

LaliqueSaltGrinder · 26/06/2026 14:19

BeSunnyLemonSheep · 26/06/2026 13:54

Yes, it’s odd.

You should not teach your child to fear the police.

Totally agree. When my kids were little the police were people they would be told to go to if they were in trouble. Not people to be feared.

Although there are a lot of adults with dodgy pasts or dodgy friends/relatives who do fear the police.

Tryagain26 · 26/06/2026 14:19

I agree it's wrong.
People used to say things like that years ago but all it does at best is make the child behave at that particular moment. But once the child realises that what the adult says is untrue it will have no effect at all. And could even make them behave even worse.
It can also make them afraid of the police rather than see them as someone who could help them if they were in trouble.

GreenFootstool · 26/06/2026 14:19

Housebashing · 26/06/2026 14:12

I used to work in a role where I could be mistaken for the police but I wasn’t the police and you would be horrified how often that happens but also quite touched. How often people buy your lunch for you.

Police have to turn that kind of thing down.

Not once though did I have anyone try to pay for my sandwiches 😂

HoldMyWine · 26/06/2026 14:17

I’m an ex police officer and it used to really annoy me when parents said this. I’d always say that’s not true, we are here to help you and look after children like you. It’s lazy parenting imo

darksideofthetoon · 26/06/2026 14:16

It’s a silly dad joke, nothing more or less.

Thankfully that’s not a crime…yet!

FudgeFudy · 26/06/2026 14:14

Jesus, it's not like he was teaching his child that 'snitches get stiches' or shouting 'Fuck da police' at him. He said that if she was naughty the policeman would take her to prison. I mean the chap was greatly simplifying matters (I presume the child wouldn't have been receptive to a lecture on the respective roles of the police, the CPS and the judiciary), and it was exaggerated for effect, but that is sort of how it works.

Backedoffhackedoff · 26/06/2026 14:13

It’s not odd- it’s not a good idea, but hardly outrageous. I wouldn’t do it myself

BellaDinge · 26/06/2026 14:13

Jellycatspyjamas · 26/06/2026 14:11

Maybe he could actively parent said child. Passing your parenting off to someone else be that police or Santa is shit parenting. Making your child view the police as people to be scared of is really shit, children need to be able to identify safe people in their communities be that teachers, lollipop people or the police.

Show quote history

Yes, as I said. It’s crappy in a way.

would I say it? No.

am I Pearl Clutching over it? No.

Housebashing · 26/06/2026 14:12

I used to work in a role where I could be mistaken for the police but I wasn’t the police and you would be horrified how often that happens but also quite touched. How often people buy your lunch for you.

OttersOnAPlane · 26/06/2026 14:12

Just a shit parent. There are plenty of them about

Jellycatspyjamas · 26/06/2026 14:11

BellaDinge · 26/06/2026 13:59

It’s crappy in a way, BUT we have no idea if his daughter is a right little diva that drives the family bonkers. Maybe it’s a teaching moment that will allow him to get his daughter to eat her veggies !

Maybe he could actively parent said child. Passing your parenting off to someone else be that police or Santa is shit parenting. Making your child view the police as people to be scared of is really shit, children need to be able to identify safe people in their communities be that teachers, lollipop people or the police.

LuckyHazelFox · 26/06/2026 14:10

Another overheard supermarket conversation amounting to nothing. The kid wasn't fazed, why should you be.

wherearethesnacks · 26/06/2026 14:08

Just a standard crap parent.

godmum56 · 26/06/2026 14:06

BellaDinge · 26/06/2026 13:59

It’s crappy in a way, BUT we have no idea if his daughter is a right little diva that drives the family bonkers. Maybe it’s a teaching moment that will allow him to get his daughter to eat her veggies !

🙄

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 26/06/2026 14:05

Didn't you say "Hey you sexist oik . It is Police Officer or (if you must ) Police Person . What values are you teaching your child"?

Or
"I'll bet this wouldn't be your first rodeo in prison, eh?"

KnittyKnotty · 26/06/2026 14:02

Children should see Police Officers as people to trust and go to if they need help.

As a small child many years ago I was always told to look for a "Policeman" or a Mum with little children if I got lost on UK holidays and they would help me.

Ablondiebutagoody · 26/06/2026 14:02

Depending on your luck that day, if you are naughty in the supermarket the police officer would either:

A. Do nothing
B. Give you a beating, taze you and choke you out

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 26/06/2026 14:00

It's like the parents who tell their child the Doctor/Nurse/Dentist will give them an injection with a big needle if they don't behave.

And a couple of weeks after Madelaine McCann went missing a mum told her young son that "the security guard would come and take you away" (The boy just shrugged in a fucked if I care way , good on him.

Way to go these parents who scare their DC off the people who try to help them when they should be , duh parenting Hmm

sittingonabeach · 26/06/2026 14:00

Also putting parental responsibility for making sure their child behaves on to someone else

BellaDinge · 26/06/2026 13:59

It’s crappy in a way, BUT we have no idea if his daughter is a right little diva that drives the family bonkers. Maybe it’s a teaching moment that will allow him to get his daughter to eat her veggies !

somanychristmaslights · 26/06/2026 13:59

Awful thing to say to a child. Police officers should be seen as a person to keep you safe, not be scared to approach them.

AbsoluteHoot · 26/06/2026 13:58

What a complete moron of a parent.

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