To report assault by 10year old?

[NotTodayBillyRay]

My son was just hit in the face by two bullies whilst playing football, am I unreasonable to report to police??

Bit of background..

10 year old ds has been getting bullied on and off for over a year, escalated at Easter to harassing us at home and ds threatening suicide and was self harming. I reported to police and nothing was done, but a pc did say if it carries on he would personally visit the boys. (Forgotten his name). Bullying had stopped as far as I knew and ds was friends with them.

And now today, I want to go out and scare them but they're just children. I'm scared ds is going to go downhill again.

What do I do..?? DH is working and not answering his phone, I've text one of the mums (her number was on ds' phone after her son called her)

Ok so I called the police, got the pc's name and was put through to his number but it got disconnected. Trying to call back 101 and it's engaged but I am trying!!!

Ds is eager to go back to the park with his big brother. I want to give him independence but don't want these bullies to get another chance to hurt him

ds(13)'s group of friends, including the smallest M, were constantly taunted/threaten last summer by a group of boys from another area, usually chasing them home. Eventually one day they followed them and the group encouraged one of their friends, S, to hit M while they filmed.

they tried to get back to M's house, but after a bit of encouragement and shoving S hit M, ds pulled S off and M fell to ground and had a panic attack. someone ran and got M's dad while ds stood between the other group and M and told them to back off with his best face (thankfully they did as for all his height advantage and bravado he's a soft lad!).

When M's dad arrived he gave S a right rollicking, when M's mum arrived she'd had enough of it and she called the police. Police came, dismissed the "fight" as just kids, and started taking witness statements for M's dad shouting and allegedly striking S (he didn't, but their group said he did, ds was right next to them and confirms he didn't). After the police statements were taken and S's parents were aware, suddenly out of nowhere there were two separate witnesses who said they saw M's dad hitting S. These witnesses were friends of S's family who happened to see an adult shouting uncontrollably and hitting a friends child and just walked on to do their shopping without intervening .

M's dad was left for a couple of days wondering if the police would press charges against him.

While waiting to hear what was happening M's mum (brave woman) went to S's house to speak to S's mum. She got a mouthful on the door step which she managed to calm down to say I'm not looking for an argument, just to tell you what's been happening. She left after a calmer chat, but without a resolution. S's group stopped hanging about around our area after that so the mum must have seen sense eventually.

Sorry that was a long post, guess what I'm saying is I wouldn't count on the police doing much, but still report it. Be careful, have witnesses, and keep our hands behind your back if you do give the little shits an earful. And if you are brave enough a calm chat with the mum might help.

The police are massively stretched.
They won't be interested.
Do something yourself. Speak to the parents etc

It's been logged and I have an incident number.

It shouldn't be a case of the police being massively stretched - they are there to protect the people - that's their job -

Well done for getting through - I hope they do something positive

I know they are stretched, but police advice last time was to report ANYTHING involving these boys harassing ds.

They've actually been reported to the police for harassing children at that park numerous times, so something will hopefully be done now. They're only ten! I hate to imagine what kind of adults they're going to grow into.

And I'm doing this more so for ds, to show him I'm there for him, that I back him all the way. To let him know that the boys are wrong and to show him that there are consequences for actions.

But most importantly I don't want my son to commit suicide because of some stupid children!!

Can you talk to the mums one to one? To let them know the impact their dc's behaviour is having on your ds? They wont like hearing it, but, unless they are completely devoid of any social conscience most mums would find it hard to ignore. Harder to ignore than the police telling them their son got into a fight in the playground.

I am not in you situation but I would like to think I would, though I am not sure I could, be brave enough to do that.

I was advised by school and police not to talk to the parents. One of the mums isn't nice at all. I've text the other mum, we've known each other for 20 years and she's good friends with my sister. Haven't had a reply yet.

Its good that you have it logged.
The police are correct in not speaking to the parents.

However, "they are children" is something that you will be hearing for the rest of primary and secondary school, if you don't make a pain of yourself.

Log every assault with the police and school. Keep a diary of events at home, read up on the school's bullying policy (I know that its holidays) And chase, chase, chase.

Police have just been round and they are taking it seriously. It's assault and given the history they will be visiting the boys homes this week for a chat.

Hopefully this will be the end of it

Good for you!! Glad they've taken it seriously - he's equally important - if not more so than grown ups -

Hopefully it'll but the wind up them

Jeez..

Well the police have been to speak to the boys and the parents, I know because I received a fb message from one this morning. Trying to make me feel guilty for informing the police, Tough!

Not looking forward to the fall out BUT I know I have done the right thing by my son and that's all that matters to me.

Ds will not be going out for a few days, I've heard one of the bullies has been seen with a knife around the local park the past couple of days - he's 10!! What is this world coming to?

Your DS knows you're there for him. That is so important.

The pc in charge called tonight. We Herve spoken to both boys, told them what it had done to ds and they've said they will leave him alone.

Hopefully this is the end of it

*They have not we herve, what's going on with auto correct?

God, so awful that such young lads are capable of such despicable behaviour. Really hope this is the end of it and your boy can enjoy the rest of his hols and his return to school, and well done to you for backing him up and showing him that his feelings matter.

Yes absolutely report it.

Too many lives ruined through bullying, I can't even get my head around knowing what suicide is. I don't have a 10yo yet, but I'd be beyond heartbroken if he was to say he wanted to end his life.

Report. Those bastards need sorting (I will probably get flamed for calling them that, but I despise bullies)..

*my head around a 10yo knowing what suicide is.

Ah, sorry, just read your update. You have absolutely done the right thing. Tough on the other parents, maybe if they were doing their job, they wouldn't have little shites for children.

Hope this is resolved quickly and without too much drama.

WEll done OP for supporting your son.

Yes, the police are stretched but if bullies go unchecked they grow up to be bigger bullies. This may well change the course of their lives from nasty fucking bullies to law abiding citizens. But either way, the OP and her son need support. The parents should be informed by the police. The OP has other kids to look after and I don't think her going round challenging the parents would help and might even make the situation worse.

OP there are lots of websites in the UK and USA offering advice and support about bullying.

I hope your son is OK. Are you getting proper support from CAMHS?

How would I get in touch with camhs? He has seen a counsellor at cyps (child and young persons services) I think that's the same thing here? They don't think he's depressed even though he's tried to commit suicide and self harmed, but he has anxiety. He's having counselling for the next 6 weeks, not sure what's going to happen after that.

Ds has been out yesterday and today, no sign of those boys yet. I've told him to ignore them, not to play or try to be friends. And if thy start on him to go to a friends and call me or just come straight home.

Don't take this the wrong way but hads your son / sons hits the bullies back?
My younger brother when he was 10 was going through the same thing until my brother lumped them back. Now their best friends.
Or even get your son to ring the police and tell them he's scared and put a harassment order out on them + the bullies parents. X

Calling the police would be a massive over-reaction, imo. Speak with their parents instead.