Has anybody called social services on a neighbour before?

[L0ts]

So without going in to too much detail, I’m pretty certain the 2 year old next door doesn’t get the proper care he needs as the mother and father are quite honestly downright vile.

What I’m wondering is, has anybody else done this before? And did they take it seriously when you asked to remain anonymous?

I’m just worrying because I have a 3 year old myself and I’m currently pregnant with number 2 and don’t really want any trouble but can’t bare hearing how they are treating this poor boy any longer.

I hope you’ve called the police and SS, this broke my heart.

Me and two neighbours filmed another neighbour through her window, she was repeatedly punching her two small children while they screamed in pain. They'd only moved in a few weeks before and every single night those kids were screaming and crying like they were being hurt. I phoned the police who never turned up. I phoned them again the next morning and reported what happened to the kids school. The police turned up at their house the next afternoon, my neighbour could clearly hear through their walls the police saying that they had no concerns, the police actually apologised to them. They never even asked to see our video footage of it actually happening despite me contacting them again asking why they hadn’t come to see it. The family moved again not long after.

@ThisIsNotThePostYourLookingFor Please, I never said I wasn’t reporting. I have just sent the report off online.

I was more asking what happened when other people had reported and if it did remain anonymous. They are a very rough family, they have some incredibly dodgy looking characters come in to their house. I know safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility but I do have to also think about my own families safety. They are honestly NOT nice people, at all.

I haven’t but a friend did. She struggled over with it for a while before the postman mentioned he had never seen a house so filthy which prompted the call.

They we’re awful, always shouting, calling the kids names and it’s suspected they left them home alone.

I don’t know if anything happened but the kids weren’t living there a month later.

@L0ts

It's supposed to be anonymous.

I have reported twice. The first one said SS told her it was me, but I suspect she was lying. I think what it most likely is they can figure it out. It did impact both relationships. I told the first it was me and I speculate the second always thought it was me. BUT - would I do it again? Yes. Given what I saw and was told by the kids - yes I would.

However, I don't hold much trust in SS. But that's the only avenue open (other than calling the police).

I will just add that this particular family we’re not “nice” by anyones definition. Very vile types but they never figured out my friend reported them. She does live two doors down (and could hear their abuse from there) so it could have been anyone.

Me- neighbouring dad was screaming abuse at his wife and kids at all hours for months. Rang social services and told the school that the kids attended (the headteacher also reported what I’d said to social services). Nothing happened. Family moved away 6 months later to a remote area of the uk where the kids would be homeschooled. Appalling but what else can you do?

I’m surprise you have to ask. I’d probably be calling police if I heard the stuff you described.

@L0ts so what if they are not nice people? Your a grown adult with every chance of escaping them, the child can’t.

@sova I’m really not asking IF I should report.. I have now reported it. I was asking if people who had reported to social services before had managed to remain anonymous.

@ThisIsNotThePostYourLookingFor And that is why I’ve reported it.

Well done OP.

From what you have said only early help will be offered which is voluntary. Hopefully they may accept it.

That poor poor little boy. OP please call SS

I'd done it but I'd think twice about doing it again.

I phoned SS because the old lady next door kept falling. I'd hear her banging on the wall and have to phone her family. She eventually got taken away by the authorities.

I then got a nasty message from old lady's daughter. Long story short, the social worker had NAMED me as the informant. I spoke to the SW who, it would appear, could not grasp that she had done wrong and put me in danger of reprisals. I did eventually get an apology for all the use it was.

Yes I did.
I get horrific lash back from the mother.
Ss did intervene. They informed them that it was me that had raised concerns.

I had to move.
It took me almost 2 years to get over the trauma of the whole situation.
Horrific.

For the avoidance of doubt, it was not just that the neighbour worked out it was me who called, the SW ADMITTED she had given my name.

I mean really, you'd think they would cover "confidentiality" in the first lesson of "how to be a social worker" I had to explain to the SW in words of one syllable that this would make people less likely to report things. It literally as if she hadn't realised this before, she could NOT understand what she had done wrong. I said "why did you give them my name?" and she said (as if I were the stupid one) "well they asked me".

I did and never gave my name. Another social worker called me back and was asking me about stuff I hadn’t mentioned when I called so I knew I wasn’t the only one who had reported them. If they are being loud and the windows are open, it could be anyone walking past.

Where have you reported online on a form?

I only ask as Nspcc are not taking webforms at the moment. You need to call

@chubbachub My local council had a form to fill in if you have concerns over the protection of a child.

Please report. Please please please call. I cant stand any news about child neglect anymore.

i once phone my neighbor. They argue a lot and the kids cried a lot. One night they argued non stop. I phone the police and social service. It turns out his dad was abusive towards mum and the boy. The boy was 4yo.

Ive not called SS but called the police a couple of time later when they’re having screaming matches and I can hear the babies crying in the background. We have a SW as my son is a CiN and the last time she was here we left the building shortly after she did (we live in a flat) and saw her walking into the building next door (also flats) so I’m hoping she was visiting them!

I work for SS not a SW, I would explain that if the person wanted to remain anon that is fine, but obviously we can't guarantee the person who the call is about won't guess who has made the call about them.

I'm just wondering what happened over this if you manage to see this....I'm in a similar situation. Had to report my nextdoor neighbour who is a foster parent. I had really intended to help get them support, I've spoken to her previously..and even banged on her door twice when she's been screaming at the 4yo to STFU 😔 nobody came to the door either time but it quietened down so I knew then something needed to be done. I recorded lots of evidence and eventually sent it all, as my neighbour knows its obviously me as I'm the only house joined to hers. I can handle this, what matters is the boy is now being cared for properly as SS removed him from her care, along with the other foster children and she now has to be supervised with her own children. We are NEXTDOOR to each other...and its awful right now. Knowing the one person who hates me more than anyone in the world, although i get it, is a cpl of feet away and we can literally hear everything through our walls. Does it get better? Please say it does 🤦🏽‍♀️🙏💜

@Mummabear2jnj I'm not the OP, and I've no experience of this, I'm sorry, but I wanted to say thank you on behalf of those poor little children.

To have such a hard time of life that they were in foster care, only to be abused by the 'carer' is just evil. I hope they've been found better places to live, poor little mites :( I'm also very glad her own children are being protected too.

You should hold your head high and know you did the right thing, the very best thing you could have done for the children. Her opinion of you is not worth the dirt on your shoe.

Is it just a feeling of her opinion that's unsettling you or is she being abusive/unpleasant? If she's actually doing anything I would seriously consider reporting her for harrassment. She's a bloody disgrace.