Feeling very uncomfortable about what I've just seen

[thatverynightinmaxsroom]

It's a really miserable day here today - wet, windy etc. Just driving home and saw a little girl (7ish?) walking alone down the street. I slowed down because it's unusual to see kids of that age alone outside round here and unusual to see anyone outside on a day like this!
She was followed by a little boy, similar age. She turned into a front garden and I thought she was going in but she just looked through the window. The boy sat down on a mat on the pavement outside the house (there was quite a lot of junk in the front garden).

I turned the car round, put the window down and asked if they were okay. At that point a man out his head out and yelled at them to come in.

I know it's not massive, most of us have probably seen worse, but I can't get the image of the little boy sitting on the sodden mat out of my head and I'm just wondering if anyone would do anything about this.

If the children are on a child protection plan or child in need plan what they won't think is "what the fuck have you told us this for"
Information helps!

What information though? That it was raining and the kids went outside for a bit then went in again? I'm not being facetious, I genuinely don't see anything approaching evidence of abuse or neglect in the OP. I work with a lot of kids who are on CP or CIN plans and have done for the last decade and I cannot think of a single case where the information presented here would be deemed relevant unless there is a massive drip feed coming.

WorraLiberty

Report by all means but I'm not entirely sure exactly what you would be reporting?

"2 children who live at 23 Mumsnet Lane, were out in not very nice weather. One of them sat on a wet mat and the guy in the house shouted them in."

I'm really not sure what else you could say confused

That he was rough in his voice and manner with them and that he probably only called them in because he saw the OP actually talk to the children (out of clear concern). Oh, and that the OP instinctively felt something was not right?

So the OP should ring up and say "instinctively they felt something was not right"?

I don't think a "gut feeling" based on a 60 second snapshot like this is worth much actually. But that's maybe because I came home the other day and found my daft son out on the road with no coat in the wind and rain. I shouted him in too (but no junk in our front garden so maybe that's ok).

Oh ffs Cara calling a child indoors 'In a rough manner', is not a reason to phone anyone.

And as for he 'probably only called them in because he saw the OP talking to them', that's ridiculous as nobody can even guess why he called them in.

We have instincts for a reason. We should use them.

BarbarianMum

So it was a 60 second snapshot now? And you know this how, exactly?

Neurotic, overreacting to be honest. What's wrong with children walking in the rain? What's wrong with a parent or other responsible adult being a bit gruff sometimes?

The impression OP got surely was that the kids had been told to get out of the house (since the boy was preparing to just sit around on a wet mat) and the dad only called them in because he saw OP looking at them. If children are being made to stay outside in wet horrible weather it's a child protection issue. Obviously this might not be the case (maybe the kids just wanted to be outside) but that's why you report it to SS who have the power to investigate.

But is this possibly part of the reason SS are overstretched so actual concerns instead of "my GUT told me" are delayed in being followed up?

I bet if the garden was pristine OPs gut would have kept quiet.

Instinct is useful - up to a point. Because we also have social conditioning and bias, "following your instincts" can also amount to "embrace your prejudice " or "reinforce that stereotype."

So do I yorksha, which is why I always encourage people to report their concerns. I don't mind, if it's irrelevant it doesn't matter. I'd rather people reported then be put off. We are encouraged to encourage people to report!

The guy could well have called him in because he was sitting on the wet mat.

Either way, the OP hasn't bothered to come back to either thread, so perhaps she's not that concerned now she's thought about it.

he probably only called them in because he saw the OP actually talk to the children (out of clear concern)

This is 100% assumption.

I work very closely with social services and I can assure you they are not interested in assumptions or "gut feelings"unless they are accompanied by clear signs of neglect or abuse.

Gah no it isn't. I'd suggest reporting to 101 rather than SS anyway.

and where does it say he called them in a rough manner?

butvyes, maybe he called them in out of concern because HIS gut was, wrongly, telling him something about OPs actions

I always encourage people to report their concerns

Absolutely, but I just don't understand what the concerns are in this case

If OP wasn't concerned she wouldn't be asking. As she is, my answer is report it.

i dont see how it cant have an effect on workloads though Sweets?

If my children were outside our house and a car pulled up and a stranger spoke to them I wouldn't be too happy,

The last time I rang 101 to report an actual crime, the recorded message said I would be held in a queue for up to 40 minutes. The time before that, it was 25 minutes.

I reckon if Mumsnet didn't exist, I would have got straight through!

No problem with kids being out in the rain, nothing worse than being cooped up.

However a car driving past then coming back and attempting to engage in two kids they don't know? Bloody sure I'd shout the kids in!

"Rough in his voice and manner" Where does the OP say that? He "yelled" - probably because he saw a car slowing down and winding down its window!

I have no idea what the OP is planning to "report".

Me neither Hippy. id probably screech at them to get in the house so they did it no question. onky takes a second to bundle a child into a car