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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to have rung the police?

67 replies

indiewitch · 09/10/2010 22:55

Had an incident in the local park today, two older (probably about 10) boys tried to walk my two year old away from me. It's happened before and they're not trying to play with her, they're trying to lead her away. I just snapped. Shouted at them and they walked away and I rang the police. Have I over-reacted?

OP posts:
grumpypumpkin · 09/10/2010 22:59

No I dont think so. Important that these kids know how dangerous and wrong that behaviour is, even if there was no harm intended. Otherwise they could get themselves into SERIOUS trouble.

Do you know the parents? If so you may have been able to speak to them first, if not I would have done the same.

What did the police say?

alicet · 09/10/2010 23:00

No. 2 words - James Bulger.

They are probably totally harmless. But they need to know this isn't funny. I probably would have stopped at the telling them tbh although I don't think you are unreasonable to call the police as it has happened before.

2shoes · 09/10/2010 23:03

yanbu

minimoomin · 09/10/2010 23:05

This has happened before, to your child, why didnt you call teh police then. I dont think you over reacted (thinking of poor Jamie Bulger). This sounds so frightening.

rastababi · 09/10/2010 23:05

YANBU at all, I would have done the same. How worrying.

GypsyMoth · 09/10/2010 23:06

did you ask them what they were doing??

mylittlemonkey · 09/10/2010 23:06

You did absolutely the right thing - it does not bear thinking about what could have happened either to your or someone elses DC. Shivers down my spine!

gomummy · 09/10/2010 23:07

YANBU at all!

Original poster
indiewitch · 09/10/2010 23:08

Parents not around. It's not the first incident. The police were okay, woman officer very nice, said it's best to intervene now and stop any behaviour like this. Male police officer less helpful, said 'it's probably 'cos she's so pretty' 'they won't remember Jamie Bulger' and 'I can't tell 10 year olds not to play with two year olds'.

They said they'd talk to their parents and that they will tell them to stay away from me and my two year old.
I feel really upset, hubby not so bothered, thinks I over-reacted.

OP posts:
Original poster
indiewitch · 09/10/2010 23:09

Last time hubby was with me, it didn't feel as frightening.
I just yelled at them and they walked away. Didn't really give them a chance to explain.

OP posts:
Tiredmumno1 · 09/10/2010 23:11

Shock that is awful, yadnbu, i hope you manage to sort it with the police, so they can get to the bottom of why they are trying to do this

hmc · 09/10/2010 23:11

Very difficult to tell tbh. Have you tried engaging them - asking them what they are doing? I suppose it is odd for 10 years old to be interested in a 2 year old - most 10 year olds would be oblivious to toddlers....however, I am loathe to impute base motives to them unnecessarily. It's a strange one .....don't know what to think

hmc · 09/10/2010 23:12

Why does your husband think you over reacted?

grumpypumpkin · 09/10/2010 23:12

Poor you. Mylittlemonkey is right, this could have had consequences for another child who's parents were not as vigilant had you not acted.
This will prob give them and their parents a shock but make them see how dangerous it is.

BitOfFun · 09/10/2010 23:13

Have you name-changed for this?

Original poster
indiewitch · 09/10/2010 23:13

He thinks I should have left it as they walked away. He totally agrees with me that they don't seem innocent and it all seemed a bit dodgy when it happened and he was there.
It's like they're trying to intimidate her and they kind of crowd behind her and move her away. It's definately not playing.

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 09/10/2010 23:14

lead her away to where tho??

my eldest ds is 12 now,but he adores younger kids always has. its sad his playing with them could be looked on as sinister.....he's great with his 2 year old brother,and is completely gooey over babies.

i get what you're saying tho.

mumtoabeautifulbabyboy · 09/10/2010 23:15

YADNBU, I can't believe your Dh thought you were overreacting. Shocking.
Most 10 year olds (I teach yrs5/6) know better than this so I would be extremely suspicious of their behaviour. you did exactly the right thing.
What a strange thing for the policeman to have said???

scottishmummy · 09/10/2010 23:15

im perplexwd why you say your dh nonplussed
this has happened before?when,where...any pattern?

Original poster
indiewitch · 09/10/2010 23:16

BitofFun, no why, should I have?

OP posts:
Original poster
indiewitch · 09/10/2010 23:17

In the same park, same kids. Last time we left and hubby was there so I sort of let it go.
It happened again to hubby when he was there without me (but with two year old).

OP posts:
Tiredmumno1 · 09/10/2010 23:17

What a ridiculous response from the male officer.

and your dh should be a bit more understanding, you were NOT over reacting

mumtoabeautifulbabyboy · 09/10/2010 23:18

TopTulip - presumably your DS would know not to lead little children away from their parents though. Fine to play in parks and be kind to them etc but this is not what the OP is describing.
I don't think that I'm an 'overreator' and work with fab children every day but this would have had alarm bells ringing for me.

Even if there was no sinister intent you did not do the wrong thing.

BitOfFun · 09/10/2010 23:19

I just wondered, because it seems oddly redolent of the JB case, and you have hardly ever posted despite being a member for a while. That could be somebody on a wind-up, if I'm honest, because it's an emotive subject. But I don't want to cast aspersions- I just wondered.

UnrequitedSkink · 09/10/2010 23:20

Indiewitch - is it the same kids all 3 times???