Would I be a terrible person if I called the police about a 10 year old?

[CatFangsAndFanta]

DS (10) was assaulted at school by a pupil in his year group and left with a head injury and concussion, and missed a week of school. Obviously it’s been emotionally tough for him as well as he’s scared of seeing this other boy at school.
The boy who assaulted him has form for this - has stamped on another child’s ribs, has given another child concussion etc.
The school have been really helpful with how they’re keeping DS safe and reassuring him after the incident.
Would I be a monster if I also involved the police? The injury could have been much worse (although it was bad enough in the first place obviously), the other boy is 10, and clearly has issues. Would it be helpful for the school if I also involved the police? Helpful for the child? It would make me a feel a lot bloody better about my son’s safety but this other child, although his behaviour is awful, may be really struggling with something too.
What would you do, mumsnet hivemind?

Yes you should most definitely involve the police. Make them aware of both the serious physical assault and the racism.

Everyone is saying call the police but this can make things worse for the child being bullied. The same as parents going into school etc.

My SIL who is now 18 was bullied quite badly from being about 12. MIL went up to school and phoned school alot and it just made it worse. SIL was then called a grass, beaten up for being said grass and then she began being targeted outside school.

When she was 13-14 MIL rang the police after she was beaten up on the street by 4 of these girls. Police went round spoke to the girls and their parents and it escalated from there.

It got so bad that she wouldn't go to school or leave the house. Schoolnwouldnt do anything because it didn't happen at school and the police were less than useless.

She ended up being home schooled for a while.

It all started over 1 girl calling her fat and then others joined in. They made her life hell. It got worse though when parents, school and police became involved. She had death threats over Facebook along the lines of snitches get stitches and you know what happens to people that grass to the more serious be careful where you're walking because mummy won't be there forever, mummy can't save you when you're dead. It was absolutely awful

The way he hurt Ds was so violent too. He grabbed DS’s head with both hands and slammed his forehead into the side/back of DS’s head. He knew what he was doing. It wasn’t just like a punch of kick.

I did call the police when this happened to my son. He was assaulted right at the end of the summer term and I had to take him to a n e. The school felt powerless to punish the girl (age 11) appropriately as we were right at the end of term.
The school were desperate for help with her and felt that a stern talking to by a police officer was what was needed.
I hadn't thought to report it to the police when I went in to talk to them but they asked me to. We didn't press charges but the end result was that she got referred to the youth prevention team. My son had a profuse apology in the first week back - it may have done the trick.
I was very reluctant to call the police but the school are really grateful that I did as all the previous assaults - no parent had agreed to and they were building up in number and severity. You will be doing this lad a favour as the police will make a relationship with the family and they will go into a youth prevention programme. You must call them - it will help the child in the long run. Good luck.

Don’t the school or the hospital have a duty to report this to the Police?

Fuzzywig The hospital didn't mention it, and the school haven't mentioned it yet, although I do have an appointment to talk to the head teacher again later this week, so will ask their advice too.

Jelly That's interesting about the youth prevention team. That kind of outcome would be really good. And if he's already on that kind of program it might help them to know it's still happening maybe?

The police will share information with other agencies and it may mean that the other child gets the help he needs.

Regardless, your priority is YOUR child.

How horrible for your DS!

Speaking as an ex police officer, there isn’t much the police can do. School are granted the power to deal with these things. Of course, that doesn’t stop you calling them. At age 10 he is classed as being under the age of responsibility. They would most definitely speak to him but most likely it would be left in the hands of the school to deal with.

Give them a call, see what they can do. Things might have changed since I left the force!

If you are in England, Wales or NI the age of criminal responsibility is 10 so the police could potentially get involved. They could well give him a warning. I wonder if getting Social Services involved might actually be more effective given the age of the boy involved. I would hope the school have already reported to Social Services but a call from you may make them understand how serious this behaviour is.

youth prevention programmes are multi agency. its in the police's best interest to have these kids on their radar. Of course they need to be involved. Children like this need picking up early so their behaviour can be managed early before it gets so entrenched that they end up in youth detention.

Police, for sure.

In order to access and meet the threshold for some support for the young person, such as the youth offending team (YOT) it's necessary to involve the police.