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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to report a stranger I saw hit (hard) her child in a car park

54 replies

janmoomoo · 17/11/2011 17:25

Dont know whether its any of my business and if I am being a busy-body. Saw a woman absolutely whallop her child with all her might, then call him a little b**rd. In a fit of disgust I took down her car number plate, I was quite upset and so was another man who saw it. Dont know whether I should report her to the police (is that the right place to report this sort of thing to) or whether to assume it was a one off and none of my business. Would the police be interested, I dont know. WWYD?

OP posts:
greengoose · 17/11/2011 17:49

Yes OP it would be best to report to the area station, (or social services, but police would be best). Ask if they will follow through, and be clear it was very hard, and you are worried about the childs safety.

thepollydoll · 17/11/2011 17:55

Report it ... it's the only way you can have a clear conscience.

And just a note ... it might not be the mother ? The child may have a perfectly lovely mother who has no idea that the DC's auntie/childminder/family friend is treating their DC so appalingly when out of sight.

NOT THAT THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHO IT WAS ... just making the point as some seem to be assuming it's the mother the OP witnessed hitting the child.

Happymm · 17/11/2011 17:58

Completely agree with Hecate, as usual, because she is always right and sensible about these things.
Am sure that as have most of us, that there have been times that I have been at the end of my tether with my little ones, and have luckily pulled myself back from the edge and gone and sung dancing queen to myself in the utility room
My mother didn't. She hit me on a regular basis, with hand or whatever came to hand. This alone, and how I remember feeling as I grew up stops me dead in my tracks every time. I could never touch my children in that way. I love them too much to blight their childhood-it is such a precious precious time that can never be got back or changed no matter how much my mother likes to think things were different I wouldn't want another child, even if not mine to go through that.
Phone your local station and they will pass it on as necessary if you can't find the number to the one local to where you were.

UterusUterusGhali · 17/11/2011 18:08

1 or 2? Shock

I thought you were going to say they were about 12! Hitting a child that age is illegal, I believe. (Not that it's right to hit a 12yo)

gettingalifenow · 17/11/2011 18:08

You should report it. Its about Safeguarding. It may be a one off but say its happended 20 tyimes in 20 different places and noone thought it was any of thier business...

barrysnotter · 17/11/2011 18:13

Oh god please report it, like another poster said up thread this woman might not be the child's mother, could be a relative or childminder, you just don't know.

Original poster
janmoomoo · 17/11/2011 18:14

Have done it. Have phoned police and given all details. They said I have done the right thing and should have phoned at the time, and hopefully they will be able to trace them and do a child welfare check.

Feel like I have done the right thing for the little fella.

OP posts:
barrysnotter · 17/11/2011 18:18

OP, thank you so much for reporting it, I will actually sleep tonight now, as I am sure you will.

You have done the right thing.

Original poster
janmoomoo · 17/11/2011 18:18

Didnt even think about it not being his mum. I was shaking a bit after I called the police, I dont even know why, because it was the right thing.

OP posts:
barrysnotter · 17/11/2011 18:20

Well done you!

ilovemydogandMrObama · 17/11/2011 18:21

wouldn't be surprised if the child is already known to social services.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 17/11/2011 18:23

Well done for reporting it.

I intervened a couple of weeks ago when a woman in the street kept dragging her 3yr old by the ear (she mentioned yelled his age to me). I couldn't bear to watch it, he was crying because she had hurt him and when he went to her for comfort she did it again Angry.

I got shouted at but at least she stopped doing it.

Xmasbaby11 · 17/11/2011 18:23

Yes, do report it. The adult needs to know they can't get away with that behaviour.

greengoose · 17/11/2011 18:24

Well done, you might have made a huge difference to that childs future just by doing that. If only everyone acted on this sort of thing..... Really really proud of you!!!

Alouisee · 17/11/2011 18:28

1 or 2 :(

That poor baby, I'd put her number plate on every social network I could until the world knows she's a child beater. Utter bitch.

Oblomov · 17/11/2011 18:30

"Smacking children under three is set to be outlawed, it emerged yesterday."
Yeah, yeah, I know it comes from DM, but atleast for once, the DM are actually reporting something interesting.

thepollydoll · 17/11/2011 18:35

Well Done, you done the right thing :)

PomBearAtTheGatesOfDoom · 17/11/2011 18:38

You did a good thing jan thank you.

Original poster
janmoomoo · 17/11/2011 18:38

Thanks for helping me do this everyone.

OP posts:
MotherPanda · 17/11/2011 18:40

so.. we are currently allowed to smack our under threes???

Well done OP

valiumredhead · 17/11/2011 18:40

How will they track her down? Confused

You did the right thing OP.

worraliberty · 17/11/2011 18:40

Years ago I reported a 'mother' hitting a child in a buggy with a glass lucozade bottle outside a shop.

The Police checked the CCTV which had caught it, and the shopkeeper gave them her address (she had papers delivered)

Anyway, she turned out to be a Child Minder and the parents were totally unaware until the Police contacted them Sad

ItWasABoojum · 17/11/2011 18:42

Well done janmoomoo Thanks

FreudianSlipper · 17/11/2011 18:44

please report her

there can never ever be a reason to hit a child with such force no matter how angry you are or how much they have played up

piratecat · 17/11/2011 18:46

worraliberty, blimey.

op well done, you could have prevented this happening again, or at least it is brought to welfare's attention. i hope.

poor little boy Sad