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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To call the police?

14 replies

TheDistantSky · 13/10/2017 10:34

Woke up at 4am this morning to the sound of a woman sobbing hysterically and saying things like "you can't do this to me" "don't leave me here"

So as not to drip feed: I live in a block of four flats on a council estate and the downstairs 'hallway' is open so works as a path between two roads. I'm on the first floor but any noise in the hallway echos straight up.

I woke DH and asked him to come to the front door while I checked on the crying lady.

She was downstairs, on her side, with part of the contents of her bag strewn around (no sign of a phone or wallet, but several prescription meds- this is relevant later) and her hair over her face. I thought at first she'd fallen down the stairs or been attacked.

I approached her and started talking like it was a first aid thing "can you hear me love? Does it hurt anywhere?" She was still sobbing but managed to reply. She said her work mates had left her there Hmm

She was going to get the bus home, didn't know what town she was in, didn't smell of alcohol and got defensive when I asked where she lived.

She told me her first name and assured me she'd call me when she got home and that she loved the staff at [named but completely unknown] care home and we (i.e. me!) do a great job Confused

She hugged me and left. The whole thing took about 15minutes. I went upstairs and rang the police. She was a tiny, mid twenties woman who was wandering alone at night confused and disoriented.

We could still hear her crying down the road when the police arrived. They picked her up and I assume took her home/ station.

If it was a night out with colleagues who then dumped her, she's going to be furious when she wakes up at the police station and will think I've been an interfering biddy.

I know the police are not a taxi service. My mum has severe MH issues and so many times people have assumed she's drunk when actually she's having an episode.

Surely it was the right thing to do, and not let a sobbing, disoriented woman wander around alone in the early hours of the morning?

OP posts:
Tinksee · 13/10/2017 10:36

You did the right thing.

Saucery · 13/10/2017 10:37

It was absolutely the right thing to do. She could have found herself in a worse situation and you did not misuse police time.

NoCryLilSoftSoft · 13/10/2017 10:38

Who said it wasn't the right thing? Confused

PerfectPenquins · 13/10/2017 10:39

No you definitely did the right thing, there is another thread on aibu today about a 17 year old assaulted by three different and unrelated men in the space of an hour on her way home! Im glad the police came in time to get her. You did a really nice whether she would thank you for it or not i dont know but you may have stopped something awful happening even possibly wandering into the road and getting hit by a car.

martellandginger · 13/10/2017 10:39

You did the right thing. I wonder if someone left her there in relatively safe place as she couldn't remember where she lived. Anyway, hopefully she got home ok.

Babymamamama · 13/10/2017 10:39

I would have done the same as you. I've rung the police many times when I've seen people in trouble and not once regretted it. I would hope someone would do the same for me if I needed it.

x2boys · 13/10/2017 10:40

Yep you did the right thing the worst that will happen is she will wake up with a bad head and be embarrassed far far worse could have happened if you had left it.

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 13/10/2017 10:41

What does “surely it was the right thing to do?” mean? You obviously thought so, has someone suggested otherwise?

Graphista · 13/10/2017 10:45

She won't necessarily have been put in a cell. Sadly because of cuts police are dealing even more with mentally ill, physically ill where it can affect mental capacity (eg epilepsy, diabetes, stroke), addicts etc and they don't just criminalise they get them seen by Drs etc

You did the right thing her safety is more important than potential embarrassment

mintteaandbananabread · 13/10/2017 10:45

They won't have taken her to the station unless she did something wrong. They would have taken her either home or to a hospital if necessary.

EB123 · 13/10/2017 10:46

Yes you did the right thing.

Cheerybigbottom · 13/10/2017 11:14

You did the right thing. If she was in a confused state she was vulnerable to anyone who saw her and wasn't as kind as you were.

TheDistantSky · 13/10/2017 11:48

No one has said it wasn't the right thing to do- it's just me over thinking it and worrying I've caused her more trouble if they do take her to a police station. And whether I was making a mountain out of a molehill/ wasting police time.

Hopefully they did just take her home.

OP posts:
Bunnyhipsdontliegrl · 13/10/2017 11:48

A disoriented woman in the middle of the night is an easy target if she cross the path of the wrong person. Better wake up at the police station than naked in someone's flat. Or she could have hurt herself. The police disn't taxi her, they made sure she was safe. You 100% did the right thing

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