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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if/how you can report someone to ss if you don't know their name?

32 replies

Wannabestepfordwife · 03/07/2013 14:57

I was wondering if someone can tell me if you can report someone to ss if you don't know their name or should I mind my own business.

Often round town I see a woman with a little girl who's around two who is always strapped in her pram whilst her mum is sat around drinking cider with the local alkies.

I've seen the mum drinking as early as 10 and the little girl is always strapped into the pram being ignored.

The little girl looks clean enough but she looks completely vacant like nobody interacts with her and I've never heard her make a sound.

I'm really concerned about the little girls welfare what would happen if she got out the pram or would her mum notice if she was snatched.

Is there anyway I could voice my concerns to ss or would I be best off ringing the police on the non emergency line and explain people are drinking in a non drinking zone with a young child?

Any replies would be greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
wonderingsoul · 03/07/2013 15:00

i would phone the 101 number like you said. if the police think it warrents investigating they will pass it on.

you cant really phone ss and say.. "well down in town theres a woman i seen a number of times drinking with her young child strapped in a buggy being quite" they havnt got the time to go looking on the off chance shes there.

i dont blame you for being worried. it cant be much fun for the little girl.

LilacPeony · 03/07/2013 15:06

Poor mite. I think it's unlikely she would be snatched or be able to get out of the pram, it's more the emotional neglect i would be concerned about. I think being made to sit in a pram all day every day with no interaction is emotional neglect. That's assuming it is all day, every day. If it is just for 30 mins to an hour every few days that's ok.

littlewhitebag · 03/07/2013 15:07

Next time you see her call the police and voice your concerns. They can act immediately but SW can't. If they are not too busy they can bob past in a patrol car and have look for themselves.

Original poster
Wannabestepfordwife · 03/07/2013 15:12

Thank you for the responses I will ring police non emergency next time I see them. I just breaks my heart there's a beautiful little girl not getting the attention she deserves.

If I was on my own I would probably ask her her name but when I'm with dd I don't really want to collar a group of people who have been drinking for hours- I know that sounds cowardly.

OP posts:
TroublesomeEx · 03/07/2013 15:18

Er, I take it you haven't had much experience of a group of alchoholics if you'd consider approaching them if you were on your own!! The mum would not take kindly to you talking to her little girl.

Phone the police the next time you see them.

valiumredhead · 03/07/2013 15:19

Errr definitely don't approach her!

Original poster
Wannabestepfordwife · 03/07/2013 15:21

Yeah definitely won't approach I'm no use to any

OP posts:
Original poster
Wannabestepfordwife · 03/07/2013 15:22

Posted too soon no use to anyone with my head kicked in.

Will just ring non emergency

OP posts:
PrettyPaperweight · 03/07/2013 15:25

This is covered by Section 2 of the Licensing Act 1902

?If any person is found drunk in any highway or other public place, whether a building or not, or on any licensed premises, while having the charge of a child apparently under the age of seven years, he may be apprehended, and shall, if the child is under that age, be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £500 or to imprisonment for any period not exceeding one month?.

Original poster
Wannabestepfordwife · 03/07/2013 15:30

Thanks for that pretty it's good to know the police would take me seriously

OP posts:
honeytea · 03/07/2013 16:10

I think it sounds like the child is having a glum time and drinking whilst looking after a child isn't great but I'm not sure that a child being strapped in a buggy is a child protection issue. Maybe the child is happy watching the world go by, its probably more stimulating watching thepeople, dogs and traffic go by than being sat infront of the tv all day.

Would you feel the same if it was a smartly dressed mum sitting having a coffee with a quit ( well behaved) toddler watching the world go by?

Original poster
Wannabestepfordwife · 03/07/2013 16:14

Your right honey I wouldn't bat an eyelid if I saw a mum in a coffee shop with friends but a young child sat with a group of heavy drinkers worries me. Maybe I'm being judgemental but I don't think it's the place for a child

OP posts:
comedycentral · 03/07/2013 16:36

That is not the same honey, get off your high horse.

AmyFarrahFowlerCooper · 03/07/2013 16:43

There's always one who comes and plays the "maybe maybe" game on here. You aren't being judgemental wannabe! Any normal person would be concerned about a child surrounded by drunks.

ovenbun · 03/07/2013 17:12

Could you take a sneaky photo and hand it in to the police? they can send out a 'concern for safety' about an individual ...once i saw a mum going completely batshit at her child on a bus...he had a school bag on i i rang that school n describe their appearance and coat etc...school were really huffy as if 'that doesn't happen here' kind of attitrude...i just said i thought it was worth telling them incase it was a 'missing piece' in the picture of an abused child...she was generally screaming such hateful stuff at him..i was making my way to the front of the bus to talk to her but it was too crowded n they got off...it upsets me thinking about it even now...tell just incase your the missing piece that helps :)

Sparklysilversequins · 03/07/2013 17:18

I phoned the police about something similar. The child was strapped in a buggy while her carer, looked like the grandmother was argy bargying round the pavement with her drunk friends. She was about 15 ft away from the child who was strapped into her buggy right in the middle of a busy pavement. I called them, drove up the road then turned back round to check all was ok, was a matter of 3 or 4 minutes at most. By the time I went past again the police were already there. I am in London though and the emergency services do have great response times here ime.

mrsjay · 03/07/2013 17:21

I think if you see them again phone the police her hanging around the streets in charge of a toddler isn't on is it say you are concerned and they are all hanging about X street

Fakebook · 03/07/2013 17:34

Drinking coffee with a group of friends is completely different to drinking alcohol with a group of alcoholics at 10am!

Original poster
Wannabestepfordwife · 03/07/2013 17:44

Thank you all for your replies I can't do nothing so will call police next time I see them. I think the sneaky photo is a good idea as well so may give it a try.

OP posts:
honeytea · 03/07/2013 18:17

I just think that The little girl looks clean enough but she looks completely vacant like nobody interacts with her and I've never heard her make a sound said by someone who doesn't know either the mother or child's name is not really a child protection issue.

Surely the police will be aware of the situation already as you have seen the child multiple times and I would imagine the police patrol the town center so they are very unlikely to have missed her.

crashdoll · 03/07/2013 18:35

Safeguarding children is everyone's responsibility. I'd also call the police next time I see her.

littlewhitebag · 03/07/2013 18:39

honeytea You are right - it is not a child protection issue. However it is most certainly a child welfare issue.

crashdoll · 03/07/2013 18:49

I think some people forget that neglect is just as harmful as abuse.

honeytea · 03/07/2013 18:59

I agree that neglect is important to report, if op was the child's aunt or the mum's friend or lived close to them and said the child was in her pushchair for hours a day and she never heard the child make a sound then absolutely report that but she has seen a few moments of the day.

Nanny0gg · 03/07/2013 19:08

Better safe than sorry.