A policeman in the supermarket ,would you do this?

Unless they are girls. In London and some others areas, women have good reason to be afraid of the Police!

Not odd as unfortunately dumb people can be parents.

Yes it was a really stupid thing to say; the child was behaving and anyhow the police aren’t to be feared. He should have taught her what the police are actually for.

Unfortunately parents do a lot worse than this. So whilst it was stupid, it’s not unusual.

I don't think you can teach a healthy degree of skepticism for authority to small children.

Police officers aren't going to hurt them and should be seen as safe people to approach for help.

I don't know what advice is given to slightly older Black children who might be seen as older than they are / be racially profiled etc.

Conversations about criminal police officers / misogyny etc and so on can come when kids are a bit older.

I used to say to my kids that police men and women are there to help you just like firemen and women and paramedics. If ever you need help, go to them, don’t be afraid of them.

Does the dad suffer from capiophobia?

I’ve heard lots of parents use these threats- that policeman/ head teacher/ priest is watching you etc etc . It’s a choice parents make when they’ve no control over their kids.

Children need to know that the police are there to keep them safe and are on their side first and foremost. Most police officers will engage positively with young people for this reason (open days, nodding and smiling etc). Of course there are bad apples and of course policing has issues. But we don't teach kids to fear nurses because of Beverley Allitt. Or teachers/ TAs, where there have been multiple instances of child abuse. That doesn't mean we raise them to unquestioningly accept everything simply because 'authority', but it does mean they need to know that these professions are generally there to help them when they need them.

That's a terrible lesson to teach any child. That's a parent that doesn't know how to parent if he needs to threaten a child like that.

I’m glad you’ve had a more positive experience than most people. That doesn’t however mean that the police are always useful, correct in their actions, to be trusted regardless or a morally upright institution. To think so is incredibly naive

Surely you can tell the difference between a joke and a threat?

And what about school teachers, politicians, students, parents, doctors, people who work in supermarkets, security guards and many many other people have harmed children and adults

Be afraid of all of them?

Yes it is clear cut for the intelligent rational people

Of course it is. That case didn’t change anything. Every profession has bad apples.

Well since Sarah Everard it's not as clear cut is it.

I'm a police officer and this is my bug bear. Whenever it's said to me, and if happens way too often, I make an effort to get down on the kids level and ask their name, would you like to wear my hat/turn the sirens on etc.

Every child and adult could harm a child but if your children need help you want them to be afraid of the world?

Hope you are saving up for their therapy

Ffs. You don’t need a toddler / young child to know about paedophile police officers. What you need them to know is when someone is in danger you call 999. A police officer, fireman or paramedic will turn up at your door to help.

They also need to know about privacy, what good and bad touch is and that secrets are discouraged.

And when it's the police who cause the issues with young kids themselves, like in my earlier post. ??

How do they expect those kids to grow up to think they'd get any bloody help from them

Awful thing to tell your child. Teach them that the police are there to help, and deserve respect. Let them jump the queue, if they are behind you. Often they are grabbing a quick bite to eat, between call outs, and if one comes in while they are queueing, they don’t get to eat on their shift.

God people say stuff all the time. You do you and just finish the shopping!

Yeah this sort of comment is normally made by parents who aren’t very bright or emotionally intelligent.

In typical Mumsnet style - "why are you siding with the criminal here? 😡"

Oh I would absolutely have used that to help prevent and maintain better behaviour from my ND child! I wouldn't have used it as a threat of being taken away/used the word naughty, more oh we best be on our best behaviour. Every litttle helps...

Maybe the kid had been a turd all day and the parent was exhausted, or the kid usually acts up in supermarkets.

I was in a community hub and police pop in a lot to say hello and have a nose. One time, a pair of cops came in and a little boy went up to them... but was clearly too shy to say anything. One of the cops put his radio to his mouth and said "what was that? a little blond boy about 5 years old, wearing a blue dinosaur T-shirt? He is right in front of me. We got him"... and the little boy burst into tears.
I think the cop was hoping for the opposite reaction.

Plus Santa is a lovely fantasy, which when they realised he didn't exist we were all chuffed as now they knew we bought the presents. But it was a great thing. I used to get them to write their lists on Christmas cards which we would leave in the fireplace. When I say "write", they dictated them to me and I wrote them down word for word.

One year my oldest son "wrote" (I still have this, I have them all from both of them - comedy gold) "I'd like a computer (he was 5, his wee brother was 1), I know it's a big thing Santa but it's not just for me, it's a present the four of us can use, so it's actually a family present. So I'd also like...." 😂

Santa is not the same as telling them that if they don't do what they're told, they'll go to jail. As a toddler. Toddler jail. 😬

I’m a police officer, if I ever hear this I always go and tell the child that the police don’t take children away it’s their parents job to teach them to behave. Police are there to protect people especially children and we deal with the naughty grown ups- whilst throwing a stare at the parent.
It really makes me cross!