Seriously scared! Would you have answered.

[Dancingfairy]

I live alone with my children. I am a single mother. My baby is quite difficult ATM and seems to be cluster feeding so I'm always awake quite late. She finally drifted off about an hour ago so I have been cleaning non stop since. Anyway I've been up and down the stairs putting rubbish out etc. anyway I came back upstairs and my door knocked, this was literally 10 mins ago. Obviously I got quite scared due to how late it is. They knocked about 3 times then left. Didn't knock any other doors. I can't be 100% sure but I thought I heard what sounded like a police radio. Would you have answered?! Wibu? I wanna point out now that a few months ago this same thing happened when I was heavily pregnant. I woke up in the middle of the night went toilet came back and lied in bed and my door knocked, it was roughly the same time. I know no one that would knock, or who would just show up.

They can detain him under the Mental Health Act if he is a danger to himself or others. It's not the same as an arrest for a criminal offence.

they can section him if he's a danger to himself or others, it's not the same as being arrested but yes they can keep him in a mental health unit. I wouldn't contact his sister, in case it puts you in more danger.

Hope you are ok OP

Oh right thanks. Guess I'm gonna be reported to ss now as they took my children's names and Dob and also school

OP, why would they do that? You've not done anything wrong.

Did you ask why they were taking the details? I imagine it's so that they can take steps to protect your DCs at school.

My sister said cos we are "at risk" now from him. Didn't really want to give my babies name as he doesn't know it and now worried he will be told.

Okay, but it will all be in their best interests. They are not reporting you for doing anything wrong. If anything, they'll offer you support.

Nobody should tell him anything without talking to you.

No, I don't want to get into my personal experience but you have nothing to fear from ss in this scenario. If they do get in touch which is unlikely it will only be to see if they can help you at all. This is not like staying with an abusive partner. They will find and detain your ex, and ideally you would move to a new address. Make plans now to move somewhere safe asap, get people around you for support. Does he know where your sister lives?

You're in no danger from ss. Police are doing their job there by probably letting the school know. If they do contact you, it will be to offer help.

Make sure the school know that your child is NEVER to be collected by him.

Keep in touch with the police - did you get your locks done today?

@Dancingfairy Unless he commits a criminal offence he won't be arrested but if he's a danger to himself and others they can detain him under the mental health act under if I remember rightly it'd be a section 18 or a 136. Which then he'd be assessed by two drs and then probably be detained under a section 28 in hospital which will give the drs the ability to medicate for 28 days. Then they can move to longer a longer detention if needed.

I am a little hazy it's a long time since I did training. Keep safe x

Yeh locks are changed so feel abit better. I wonder if the police will be able to tell me when they catch him? I won't feel safe till he is caught. I just don't want the judgment from having social services involved as I know people judge that. He was sectioned last august, it was just after I found out I was pregnant, very worrying.

I don't answer unless I'm expecting someone. If I heard a police radio I would have looked out the upstairs window

Dgood work getting the locks changed Dancing. Did the officer who spoke to you give you a card or contact details? Could you call and ask to be informed when he's caught?

I would move house ASAP.

That's given me the willies! Poor you. How did your son know it was a man from the knock?

They can detain him under the Mental Health Act if he is a danger to himself or others
It's not quite that simple. He needs to be in a) a public place
b) in immediate need of care or control

If he's in a dwelling the police can't section at all without an AMHP/Dr.

@Rodhullstvaerial if he's a danger to himself they can under the section of a 136.

Yep, And S136 is only available to police with the two criteria mentioned in my first post are met

*when Not with

Actually, Rodhull has described s136 very accurately.

However, it's not that simple either. We already know that other services are involved so other sections of the MHA might be used, albeit that the police would need to call on AMPHs to be present. The police and AMHPs are obviously working together on this as it was the key worker who became aware of the danger.

We also know that there is a warrant out for his arrest. There may well be more to this on a criminal level than we know. That would allow the police to detain under non-MH powers (or it could even be MH powers if he's a danger to himself also, on the off chance a s135 warrant might be involved). We don't know the details.

I think the OP just needs reassurance that she will be protected. I think keeping things simple is the best option.

They did mention he is wanted over an unpaid fine aswell. My sons bedroom is at the front of the house as is the babies, mine is at the back. So I was outside the bathroom when the door knocked so I moved over into the hallway beside my sons room. I heard talking but not clearly (couldn't hear what was said just a voice that sounded male) my sons bed is by the window so it woke him and I asked him if he heard it aswell. The person basically knocked about 3 times then said something. Then left. I think they might arrest him on the threats if he is going around telling people he has a "hit list"?

Yes, you could well be right OP. Threats is definitely an element that will be considered on the criminal side.