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AIBU?

To call the police?

38 replies

EvilTwins · 10/05/2014 22:26

I need some opinions. I was threatened at work on Friday - bit of background... I'm a secondary school teacher. The threat was from a parent - she felt I had treated her DD unfairly threatened to come to school and beat me up. I didn't really think much of it but she then posted on FB that I'm a fucking bitch and that she was going to get me. My line manager told me about the FB post and suggested that I might want to call the police. I haven't got a copy of the post. I am worried about going in on Monday. She might have calmed down and got over it but she might not have.

Opinions welcome.

OP posts:

Report

mineofuselessinformation · 12/05/2014 21:53

What a delight...
I hope your school will pursue this properly even if you don't have to teach her anymore.

EvilTwins · 12/05/2014 19:52

I think someone is going to pick the child up tomorrow - her parting words (as she walked away from her practical exam on Friday) were "fuck you, I don't need your stupid subject anyway" so she'll need to be spoken to anyway. Then I potentially don't need to see her again as she's yr 11 and the exam is over.

OP posts:

partialderivative · 12/05/2014 19:50

Sounds like she is backing off rather sharpish.

You did exactly the right thing.

Maybe you could have a meeting with the pupil, you and a line manager before she does enter your class again.

quietbatperson · 12/05/2014 19:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

iloveshortshorts · 12/05/2014 19:40

Im glad you're ok OP x
when I was in school we always had fellow pupils in school who were disruptive and when they were in trouble or put in detention their parents always threatened to beat up teachers luckily they never did.

EvilTwins · 12/05/2014 19:34

The child was in later in the day - she deliberately avoided my lesson.

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sykadelic · 12/05/2014 19:21

Excellent news. Interesting that neither she nor her child showed up.

Nomama · 12/05/2014 18:35

Excellent news.

I hope you have managed to relax a bit xx

EvilTwins · 12/05/2014 18:30

Thanks for checking back on me! It was fine today. I was really nervous first thing (not much sleep) but the HT spoke to me first thing to see how I was and then came down to lesson 1 with me as I was due to teach the girl whose mother had made the threats. She didn't turn up. Later on, the mother was supposed to be in for a meeting. HT had got the police in for it, but the mother didn't show up. So the HT and the police had a meeting instead and the HT gave all the details including a copy of the FB post. Police are going to visit the mother and will let me know when they have.

So after all that, it was alright. Phew!

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Nomama · 12/05/2014 18:02

I missed this over the weekend, Evil. I hope your day was OK and your school and the police have stepped up and done their job.

Remember to contact your union, if only to let them know that this has happened. They are your insurance policy, so keep them in the loop.

Flossyfloof · 12/05/2014 17:55

How did today go, EvilTwins? I hope it is all sorted and that you are OK.

Tinkerball · 11/05/2014 12:05

Of course a verbal threat is enough, I'm glad you phoned the Police.

Flossyfloof · 11/05/2014 11:58

Glad you found the Police reassuring and that school are doing something about it. I am sure the mother is all gob and no brain but you should not be subjected to abuse when you are just doing your job. If Mum doesn't come in I would refuse to teach the child until the matter has been resolved to your satisfaction.

Groovee · 11/05/2014 11:02

Hope that you get some sleep tonight and if any problems, I would dial 999 if the mother comes near you in a threatening or harassing manner.

EvilTwins · 11/05/2014 10:56

I've just had an email from my line manager to say that she and the HT (she is the Deputy) are meeting with the mum tomorrow. She said they'll discuss it first thing and catch up with me before first lesson (when I'm due to teach the delightful child of the delightful mother!) so it seems that they are taking it seriously. Phew!

OP posts:

BreeWannabe · 11/05/2014 10:51

You poor thing :(

I'm a secondary teacher too. You've done the right thing in contacting the police. If I were you, I'd see my HT first thing tomorrow and request in writing how the school is going to handle this. Do not let them minimise it. We should never be threatened at work, by anyone.

EvilTwins · 11/05/2014 10:48

Thanks for all the advice. I called 101 this morning and spoke to a lovely police officer who took all the details and was very reassuring. She said as it wasn't an emergency, the details would be passed to the relevant dept who would add it to their list of things to follow up, but they should contact me within the next day or two. I've also emailed my line manager to find out what school is doing about it. The officer said that I should dial 999 if the mother comes to school tomorrow and I am at all concerned.

Still feeling a bit shaky but much better than I was.

OP posts:

hippoinamudhole · 11/05/2014 00:34

Key words to use when reporting to the police are alarmed, harassed and distressed

CumberCookie · 11/05/2014 00:26

A think a verbal threat of violence is enough to contact the police on 101. You are only going to log your concerns and get advice at this stage, I really think you should do it.

AgentZigzag · 10/05/2014 23:47

Is your line manager encouraging you to go to the police now because she's worried the woman might catch up with you at home and she doesn't want you to wait until monday? (if I can say that without giving you something else to worry about)

She might not have shown it to you because she gave you a watered down version of what was actually said? Maybe she was trying to protect you a bit?

I'd just let the police decide whether the parent has crossed a line (which I'm sure they have), even if they don't think she has, they'll take it seriously and won't make you feel as though you made a mistake reporting.

WorraLiberty · 10/05/2014 22:43

Your line manager has a screen shot and the school was named

That's more than enough for her to get on and do her job

If she doesn't, make sure the head teacher does

I agree, it sounds as though you're being palmed off and put in the firing line.

Icimoi · 10/05/2014 22:42

First thing on Monday, make sure that the school has taken steps to ban this parent from the premises.

ICanSeeTheSun · 10/05/2014 22:42

Contact the police on 101, as your line manager have advised.

Wolfiefan · 10/05/2014 22:42

Can you call your union?
Contact the police?
Is the site secure? I've known parents to be banned from school property.

IscreamUscream · 10/05/2014 22:42

Please don't wait until she carries out her threat before you involve the police, do it before. She sounds like a nasty piece of work who needs to be spoken to by the police and told to wind her neck in.

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