To think this is no way to punish a child!

[Justalittlelemondrizzle]

Neighbours arrived home. Dad shouting and swearing at 7yo lad. Don't know what he's done obvs. They went in house where their neighbour heard banging before the crying 7 yo is thrown out of the house and the door is locked. He's knocked on the door about 10 times. It's raining so he keeps going under a shelter in the garden as he doesn't even have a coat on.
Dads just come out to take football off him before going back in the house and locking the door so the kid is now playing with rocks. He's been out there 40 minutes now 😒 surely this isn't normal behaviour?

Having just completed a Safeguarding course, I can say that you must report it, and to not do so (when it comes to someone else's attention) is an offence.
Do not go to the parents. Call 101 or NSPCC - they deal with these things all the time.

www.google.co.uk/amp/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5133293/amp/Man-woman-arrested-boy-dies-freezing-weather.html

What sort of offence supersop?

This happened regularly to my DH as a child. He was also left at the side of the motorway in a foreign country. His dad was a very influential, well respected "man". If someone, anyone, had reported it then many years of misery may have been avoided.
My MIL still suggests that we threaten things like this to our DC, we tell her that that is something we DO NOT DO. She doesn't babysit them.
You can report the incident to school, they will take it further but it will be quicker and more affective to call SS or NSPCC.
Good luck. Just think, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good (wo)men to do nothing."

Before you get the authorities involved, you should go round to them and explain your concerns

"Excuse me Mr Psychopath Neighbor, I'm dreadfully sorry to bother you but I'm a tad concerned you may be abusing your child, shall we have a chat about it?"

Please don't approach the parents directly with your concerns OP.
There are people who are specially trained to have these conversations and intervene in these situations, you needs to involve them. Giving the parents a 'heads up' that she suspects them not only puts you at potential risk but also gives the child's parents a chance to hide evidence of abuse/neglect, get their stories straight, coach the child on what to say if a Police Officer or Social Worker comes round asking questions etc. It also increases the immediate threat of harm to the child as they may hold it together in front of you (for appearances sake) and then take their anger out on the child in private.

Lets hope the Op is calling them now.

Call 111 op. That poor boy. Sounds like the abuse has been going on for abit. Wasnt there a child who died being left outside. Report op!!!!

Report, report, report.

Abuse. Throwing a 7 year old child outside and locking the door? That is crazy nutcase behavior. The safety and well being of the child trumps everything else.

What else are they doing to him?

worra - it may not apply to non-professionals, but teachers, sports coaches etc have a mandatory reporting duty.
In the OP's case - it's up to her sense of duty as a concerned citizen.

What do you mean no signs of abuse THIS IS ABUSE get police THERE NOW How would you feel when this beast kills or seriously injured that child Where's you common sense and why are you on m n ? phone the bloody police now I have a ds that age sort it NOW

I cannot believe you would sit and watch a small child sit out in the rain for 40 mins with no coat in the rain. Shame on you OP for not doing something.

To be fair, he wasn't in the rain, he was under a shelter.

You really must report it to the police.

Whatever you do do not do what a pp suggested and go round and talk to the dad. That’s like the obviously wrong question in multiple choice safeguarding test! You could put yourself in danger and the child in further danger.

Just report it, anonymously if you want, and let children’s services do the rest.

I cannot believe you didn't call the police at the time. Jesus Christ. Report to social services tomorrow please!!

No report right now

SS are 24 hours and so are the police

Social services are not 24 hours. They do not take referrals and screen cases. Any calls to social services after hours will get referred to police or to the duty team the next day.

Poor child. Definitely call the police.

To be fair, he wasn't in the rain, he was under a shelter.

OP. Call the police. This IS abuse.

It still amazes me in this day and age that people don't act on this kind of thing because it's not as clear cut as witnessing violence. It's highly likely that this child had been subject to this kind of 'punishment' before, or worse and that he will be again.

Social services can not possibly hope to safeguard this boy without people stepping in, being brave and making a phone call that may be difficult.

If not one adult steps up for this kid, how will he defend himself? If you don't, who will?

The apprehension you feel at potential comeback for reporting is nothing in comparison to what this boy could possibly be suffering. Think about that and pick up the phone. Don't engage with the parents, don't contact the school. Speak to the police who will liaise with the children's services duty team and they will investigate from there.

For gods sake OP, please pick up the phone!

Phone whoever you have to just get someone there tonight

I urge you to contact social services, if you called the school, they would probably ask you to do the same, it is not an acceptable punishment to shut a child outside in the rain for 40 minutes, you can report to ss and remain anonymous if u wish, if there are other houses overlooking the neighbours garden, they won’t know it’s you who reported them. If they’re prepared to behave like this out in the open, what do u think is happening behind closed doors? Please don’t be one of these people who ignore incidences like this and excuse it as “none of their business” child protection is everyone’s business

Phone the police. Soon as they go round they themselves will inform ss regardless as a child is involved.

Also, do not talk to the parents, where abuse is suspected, you should never alert the abusers to you’re suspicions, they may take it out on the child and be more secretive about what they’re doing in future

This is not "old school parenting " or similar bullshit. I am in my 50s. My prewar born dad would give me a slap on the legs - that's old school. He would have been horrified if anyone did this to a child. Disgusting.