Child neglect? Should I report this?

[womenspeakout]

Hi there.

There's a concerning issue on my street and I'm wondering what to do, whether it should be reported.

There's a woman, and she has two sons, we barely noticed them before for years, but she split with her previous partner, got a new one and has had a daughter.

For some reason, her and this new partner are out the front a lot, so we see more of them. The baby girl, she's quite young, 2 maybe 3, but she's nearly been hit by a car many times. Some that I've seen while I've been walking or in a car (a cab driver nearly ran into her).

Then the bus driver was saying he almost hit her the other day and had to swerve to avoid her. The parents really don't seem concerned at all, she's left to it.

Would you report this as neglect? She's been close to being run over many times, the bus driver said he was so close, and she's only a dot, she'd never survive it.

Well, it’s either that or wait till she does get hit by vehicle and regret not reporting.

I think you know what’s the right thing to do here.

If in doubt report concerns. There are people (social workers) who have years of training and experience to help them access such risks so members of the public don’t have to make such decisions.

Yes, I would.

Have you talked to them? Are they just completely unobservant? Before reporting I’d have a word with the couple. If no good then yes report.

I wouldn't bother talking to the parents first. You are likely to get abuse and unless they are incredibly dense they must realize their daughter should not be in such a dangerous location. Just report to Social Services.

I'd definitely report, you'd feel terrible if you didn't act on your concerns and she got hurt or worse

Absolutely do not speak to the parents first, if you do find that they are unconcerned about the child's safety then when you make a report they'll know exactly who to blame & obviously know where you live
This makes me incredibly sad, definitely try & contact someone before it's too late!

I wouldn't talk to them either. If they ignore her to the extent she has been in the way of vehicles more than once, they are not likely to be approachable people. Just report her.

What are they doing at the front? Sitting in garden chairs? It seems really bizarre to imagine them being there whilst she runs around in the road

I wouldn't talk to them. They don't seem all that approachable, and should I say something they'll know who it is.

Although, they must know that 1, people are concerned and 2, that she's been nearly hit as I heard the other neighbours speaking to her ex about the baby being almost hit by a car and her being in the road.

What are they doing at the front? Sitting in garden chairs? It seems really bizarre to imagine them being there whilst she runs around in the road

Sometimes they are sitting in the car, or just hanging around out there.

They have a back garden, but they come around the front. There are green verges out there, but a lot of the time they are just out there.

Other times she's been doing stuff by the car and she's just been in the road. It just seems like a complete lack of concern/care.