I apparently over-reacted by calling 101.

[Scabetty]

This is more a 'was I' than 'am I' as I have already reported this to 101.

Last night, around 6 pm, there was a light knock on the front door followed by tapping on the front window. When I opened the door a child od about 6 yo was standing in pink pjs singing I wish you a Merry Christmas. The child was wearing tinsel on their head. I said they were a little early for Christmas and they said they were going to Spain next week lol. Another child walked across my drive having been at my neighbours to the left. Across the road was a third child. All were under 10 yo imho. I asked The 6 yo where they lived and where their mum or dad were and they said round the corner. There are no houses round the corner and there were no parents in sight. The 6 yo was actually a small boy even though pjs suggested otherwise. I politely said goodbye and gave no money. I called 101 to report this as I was concerned - they were not even staying together as a group.

I bumped in to neighbour to my left this morning and mentioned I called 101. They seemed surprised and said "don't you know they were Irish travellers?" As though that explains it and I am over-reacting. To me it was neglect and abuse.Did I over-react?

It wouldn't even enter my head to call the police because some kids were Carol singing.

There seems to be a huge imbalance between what age and when people think it is okay for children to be home without an adult and what age and when people think it is okay for children to be out on the streets without an adult.

I would be uncomfortable with children under 10 being out alone after dark knocking on strangers' doors. I don't know if I would call the police or not but I would certainly be worried and think the children weren't properly cared for. I think a 6yo in PJs at that time on a chilly night would be enough for me to call 101 for advice too though thinking about it.

actually somebody called the police about unaccompanied children after seeing my daughter walk down the lane to a neighbours house.
She is 16.
Just wtf

For me, the reporting in this instance is more about information gathering and logging concerns, rather than expecting a panda car to turn up and do something there and then. When there have been so many children who have fallen through the net, I think the police would say you had done the right thing.

You did absolutely the right thing, but IME the police will do nothing in this circumstance.
Abuse of children is hidden by some travellers as "cultural differences" and police get totally stumped as to how to deal with it, especially as, as soon you start investigating a family they move on.

Kids carol singing in pjs in the rain is not the norm round here. If they had been wearing appropriate clothing I would not have been as concerned. Trick or treaters are always accompanied by older siblings or parents her a the streets aren't well lit.

I would have probably logged it with the police but for slightly different reasons; we have had a few instances over the last few months where young children are sent to he front door to distract the occupier while an adult tries to gain entry through back of the property and valuables have been stolen and on a couple of occasions, car keys also. Rather selfishly that would be my first worry, although I think 6 is extremely young to be out unaccompanied.

Another one wondering what the police actually said.

You did what you thought was reasonable at the time, so yanbu

Precious, being streetwise does nothing for you when someone who's 2 feet taller and far far stronger wants to pull you into their house. A child of six is vulnerable simply because they're little if nothing else.

101 took all the details regarding appearance, age, ethnicity, accents, clothing (asked if they were all in pjs with no coats) and gave a ref no. When I said I hope I am not the only neighbour concerned they said I did the right thing.

DennyDifferent, that is exactly why I called. I did not expect a car to attend. Children in pjs in the drizzling rain with no coats isn't the norm yet surely.

i think op done the right thing 101 is the non emergency number which i think is used for things like this. ie there is a concern about someones safety. Its then handed to the police and they can decide what needs to be done. if anything.

Yes, I think you did the right thing.

This does not sound like the equivalent of unaccompanied trick-or-treater or even genuine carol singers.

And even if there is no concern then the police who can get SS involved checking it out won't to any harm. Whereas NOT doing anything and it then turns out these were children used, say, for procuring money, or put at risk in other ways, could have divesting consequences.

So there's your answer.

Sunny are you saying I am that stupid? It does not compare.

yanbu, and usually I think MNers are trigger happy about calling someone, but sheesh, you had minimal info to operate on in figuring out if they were at risk.

Puppy, yes from 101. Don't think they are there to tell me otherwise, they pass it over to the police. From my neighbour and many on here I was over reacting ??.

I think it's better to over-react in these circs than to under-react. What you have is a six year old out in his pyjamas on a cold wet, winter's evening with no adult present. I think it's the pyjamas element that would worry me most - if he was fully dressed then the fact that he was with two older children would probably reassure me. But letting a small child go out like that suggests that the adults who are responsible for him aren't looking after him properly.

Where's the harm?

Even if the police thought she was over-reacting, what's the harm?

Better to be too concerned than not at all imo.

As a related tangent, I am always really surprised how reluctant people are to call the police/fire brigade, even in situations where it is totally warranted.

My own parents fought a fire in behind their house for four hours. When I asked why they hadn't called the fire brigade they said they "didn't want to bother them." Eh, why the actual fuck do you think they exist if people don't ring them?

Police rely on the public to be their eyes and ears. If you don't flag up worrying situations you're actually making their job harder. Of course they get plenty of crank calls and ridiculous "emergencies" but it's the tips and the small pieces of information that allow them to build a picture in a situation where something does go wrong.

People were shocked when I called the police on a neighbour blasting music at 4am and refusing to turn it down. The police, on the other hand, were massively helpful and assured me it was absolutely the right thing to do. They came out quickly, told him to turn it off, he did, no more problems with music.

If you feel something is amiss, call the police. They will deal with it.

I agree, it's the people worrying about calling the emergency service who probably should call them more readily.

The plonked don't hesitate I wish they did

plonkers

Autocorrect did not approve

YANBU - They were in their pyjamas. I don't know of any parent that lets their children go out in just PJs so I would assume either the children were out without their parents knowledge or it's a possible neglect/lack of care issue - both valid reasons for reporting to 101/relevant authority.