To wonder if sainsburys should have done anything about this woman?

[CundtBake]

I was picking up a few bits in my local sainsburys yesterday, and as I went to pay I noticed a woman was quite distressed at the customer service desk (which is next to the self service tills)

I overheard a member of staff ringing someone saying the woman couldn't find her child. It seemed as if the woman was just very panicky but it quickly became obvious she was also quite drunk (this was half 3 in the afternoon).

As soon as the man had come off the phone she spotted her child and charged through a queue of people and started walloping him. And I mean really aggressively, running around with her hands raised hitting him all over his face and body shouting at him. There was a kind of synchronised gaps from everyone that saw as she marched him out of the shop still going.

The child was in a primary school uniform so id guess he was around 10 years old. Now I only have a toddler and I admit I don't know the official laws on smacking but it's not something I'd ever do. I can understand the frustration mixed with relief she must have felt but her reaction was so extreme.

When id paid for my shopping (and I had been scanning and packing the whole time, I wasn't just standing there gawping!) I went over to the member of staff and asked if perhaps he should report it to someone, after all they'd have it on CCTV etc. he said he wasn't sure and he'd find out but it would probably be best to just leave it.

Everyone else in the shop that saw it seemed shocked and there were a few comments of 'child abuse' and things like that but they were followed by little (perhaps shocked) laughs so I genuinely don't know if i overreacted by thinking something should be done.

Aibu?

tatty someone else can do (providing they a not a childminder/nursery worker or teacher or childcare worker) but only if they have the actual consent of the parent.

Bit how would that even come up in conversation? What type of person would give that consent or ask for it. The mind boggles.

I called 101 and reported it a while ago.

I have to say I found some of the responses on here a bit upsetting. I didn't do NOTHING. I asked a member of staff in the shop that it happened in to report it. Granted I don't know if they did or not so I've done it myself now but I think 'shame on you' is a bit harsh. It's not always easy to do the perfect thing every time something happens.

I feel suitably guilty already. I just really hope it was a one off and maybe she got too drunk in the heat etc.

That's good Op. I think it's such an emotive subject that people ( I know I do ) get very passionate about it. Good on you for reporting.

I've had a few conversations with people ( in my job) regarding unacceptable behaviour towards children and I nearly blow a gasket when someone says ' yes , well, we thought the behaviour was out of order but didn't like to say' . By then it's too bloody late.

Fuck what the law says. A drunk woman loses her child and when she sees him she doesn't cuddle him and cry with relief she batters him around while everyone just watches.

I bet every poster on this thread would have intervened, especially if they had their own child with them

Bollocks would they. Some, yes. But very, very few.

Op whilst we all like to imagine that we'd play the big hero and step in, the reality is that few people do. This isn't just down to bystander apathy, but to actually quite justifiable fear.

You've done what you can, don't feel bad because of what a few fantasists on the internet reckon they'd do.

This sounds like more than smacking, which is allowed if it doesn't leave a mark. What would worry me is this woman sounds really out of control and unable to look after a child. The thing to do would be to report it to the police and let them decide but it is difficult to think straight in such a shocking situation. If you report it to 101, they may still be able to contact the store about CCTV.

I'm fairly sure my husband would have intervened.

I'm fairly sure my husband would have intervened.

Sorry phone playing up

As far as I remember from child protection training, the law says you can 'reasonably chastise' as long as you don't leave 'a lasting mark'. Couldn't be more woolly and subjective!

Please report what you saw. Google the number for your LA's social services and ask to speak to the duty social worker. Everyone is horrified by abuse, which this clearly was, but people are far too reluctant to intervene. If adults who witness these things don't speak up for the poor, vulnerable child, who will?

Sorry, missed your poat OP - good on you for reporting it. I think still call SS too though, just in case it doesn't get followed up.

It is not a lasting mark that makes it assault it is any mark.

That could include but is not limited to swelling,bruising and redness

So in reality and if the law is applied as it is written then any smack has the potential to be assault

Another very dodgy aspect of the law on smacking is that a parent can 'reasonably chastise' their child when they're 17 and 364 days old, but do the same thing 24 hours later and it's assault.

Needless to say I shall never ever reasonably or indeed unreasonably chastise my dd.