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Original poster

What would you do? (serious subject) and long, sorry.

28 replies

ChicChicChicChiclana · 29/04/2020 19:30

You are driving to the supermarket along a busy main road which is a red route and has a bus lane and turn off to the side road to get to the supermarket car park and are amazed to see a toddler, naked except for shoes and carrying a glass lampshade, heading for the main road.

You stop the car (not park) jump out and stop the child from heading for the main road. The child looks old enough to be able to speak and understand (maybe about 2?) but doesn't seem to understand what you are saying things like "are you cold" "where are your clothes" "where is your Mummy, where is your Daddy".

You ask the child to stand still so you can get back to your car to get your phone but the child doesn't understand and is toddling off.

You flag down a person driving past (who has nearly bumped into your car because it is abandoned in the middle of the road on the corner) and she gets out to help. Now there's two of you, one can keep an eye on the baby and the other can look around for signs of parents. A flat is found, with the back door open. Person 2 goes through garden to back door and calls out for anyone inside no answer. By now about 5 minutes have passed since person 1 stopped the car to help the child.

Person 2 is about to go into the flat through the back door, when a man comes out of the side door of the flat just next to where person 1 is standing with the child. He speaks quietly to the child in a language which is not English and says "thank you" to person 1 and walks round through the garden and into the back door. There is no sign of anguish or panic or even annoyance with the child for nearly walking into 3 lanes of traffic on a busy city street.

Person 1 and person 2 stay outside on the street debriefing for a few minutes. Person 2 says they might report to social services but "they'll have a think about it first". They say their goodbyes, noting that the back door to the flat is still open.

Wwyd now, if anything, as person 1 in this scenario?

OP posts:
LalalalalaLlama · 29/04/2020 19:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SpudsAreLife84 · 29/04/2020 19:37

Call the police and social services to report. If person 2 doesnt want to, that's their prerogative but I couldn't live with myself if I didn't and something later happened to the little poppet Sad

Cosyblanky · 29/04/2020 19:44

I was in a very similar situation. I returned the child to home and recognised the older siblings as going to the school I worked at, so I reported it there. If this hasn't been the case I would have definitely reported it.

Isadora2007 · 29/04/2020 19:56

I’d have picked up the child in the first instance so wouldn’t have needed the second person to stop. I’d have then located my phone and called the police.

Isadora2007 · 29/04/2020 19:57

And at this point I’d definitely call 101 and give them the full details.

Original poster
ChicChicChicChiclana · 29/04/2020 20:15

Yes, except for social distancing just now and even if person 1 had picked child up they would still have had to carry them into road and round to driver's door of car while they reached inside for their bag/phone. And wouldn't that have been scary for child to be picked up by total stranger? Luckily person 2 appeared on the scene very quickly.

OP posts:
GinnyStrupac · 29/04/2020 20:26

It is the reaction of the man/parent (was he?) also that is of concern. I would report via the police non emergency and social services. I would not report a wandering off child in every circumstance, as these things do happen to the best of parents, but there is something here that would make me want someone to check all is well.

ducksback · 29/04/2020 20:28

Report OP. No question.

Ikeameatballs · 29/04/2020 20:33

I would call the police! I would actually call 999 and let the Police make a decision as to how the call was prioritised, they may know the address/occupants already.

StillWeRise · 29/04/2020 20:37

definitely call the police

GinnyStrupac · 29/04/2020 20:47

I know this is with the benefit of hindsight, but on finding a naked toddler on a main road and who I was unable to communicate with I would have picked them up, wrapped them in something if possible and called 999. I would not have gone off looking for possible parents or home if they were not in obvious sight. I realise that both the persons must have been shocked though OP. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and all that.

AlwaysCheddar · 29/04/2020 21:00

Tell the police.

Pinkflipflop85 · 29/04/2020 21:02

I would have called the police without a second thought.

notacooldad · 29/04/2020 21:04

I’d have picked up the child in the first instance so wouldn’t have needed the second person to stop
I would want a second person around to collaborate my story should things have escalated to be honest

KnobwithaK · 29/04/2020 21:04

Call the police.

Original poster
ChicChicChicChiclana · 29/04/2020 21:28

Thanks for everyone's input.

I did call the police (101) within 5 minutes and the call handler who answered said that officers would go round and check things out. She didn't seem to think I was wasting police time.

I just wanted to get a feel for if what I did was right or disproportionate. I didn't trust person 2 to do it, she might have changed her mind and not bothered.

OP posts:
SpyApp · 29/04/2020 21:31

You did the right thing.

Original poster
ChicChicChicChiclana · 29/04/2020 21:36

I was really shaken up! That baby was 5ft away from a main road, on his own!! Sad. It's going to cause me sleepless nights.

OP posts:
GinnyStrupac · 29/04/2020 21:39

You were right to call 101. You have the same responsibility to act as person 2, and like you I wouldn't have left it to them/chance.

You did the right thing. I hope you're feeling ok. It must have been a bit of a shock.

Poppi89 · 29/04/2020 21:39

This is likely a case of taking your eye off your toddler for 1 minute and them running out however I would have phoned 999 for my piece of mind who would help find the parents and then contact the relevant social workers.

I have seen toddlers being allowed to roam the streets (not naked) with older siblings (primary aged) at 10pm so it would be good for the child to be made aware of by SS

teqcar · 29/04/2020 21:40

Yes, except for social distancing just now

Finding a toddler wandering alone outside is an exception to the social distancing rules. I have come across a very similar situation and I took the child into my car despite them trying to run away. Once safe inside the car I called the police.

You do need to report this incident to 101.

teqcar · 29/04/2020 21:43

Sorry I realise that seems like I'm saying you do need to report it, as in you haven't. I meant you do need to report things like this in agreement because you have.

GinnyStrupac · 29/04/2020 21:47

It's also that he had a glass lampshade if he'd fallen on it, as well as the man's reaction and danger from the road and so on.

If it helps to put your mind at rest, you could ring the social services duty team tonight or in the morning, in case it does need referring on but the police don't. The family could be absolutely fine and it's just a momentary slip up, or it could be a piece in a jigsaw. I think I would ring.

KnobwithaK · 29/04/2020 21:57

Good call OP 👍

Purplequalitystreet · 29/04/2020 22:05

You absolutely did the right thing. Always best to be on the safe side. These things can happen to anyone though. The story in my family is that when my dad was a toddler he was found picking flowers in the middle of a roundabout!

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