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AIBU?

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Original poster

DS escorted home by the police - WTF?

245 replies

ReanimatedSGB · 19/04/2018 17:24

He's 13 and a half. He hadn't done anything wrong (as they were at pains to assure me) but someone 'reported that he seemed to be lost and potentially vulnerable', so they had asked him where he lived, brought him home, asked for my name and phone number...

It's 5pm, on a lovely sunny afternoon. DS was coming home from school. He said he had been chatting to someone about trains and train stations (he is a transport nut) - and now this? WTF? I did say to the police that he likes transport and likes to watch the trams. I am not going to insist he stays indoors all the time - why should I?

OP posts:
LipstickHandbagCoffee · 19/04/2018 22:46

And, really, have none of you ever been on the wrong end of an interfering stranger who insists on 'helping' you when you don't want or need help?

this Was not a over zealous stranger, it was police. A statutory agency

Weezol · 19/04/2018 22:48

Is it possible they recognised him from the attack last year?

Skinnyboneylittlepony · 19/04/2018 22:49

It might be the someone is a person who has been suspected of something but never charged. Known to the police this way, the decided to ensure your son was safe from suspected serial killer/terrorist/mafia/drugdealing/violent mental health issues/grooming. For data protection reasons they can’t say ‘oh, that mr x who is schizophrenic and comes off his meds every now and then and he told us he wants to walk the lost boy home.

Weezol · 19/04/2018 22:50

To be clear to others, Reanimated's son was the one was attacked.

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 19/04/2018 22:50

Did you just make that up?

Weezol · 19/04/2018 22:52

Is that aimed at me?

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 19/04/2018 22:53

You’re making things up What a daft and elaborate scenario Skinnyboneylittlepony

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 19/04/2018 22:56

Pipe down weezol,are you trying to establish was my comment directed at you?
Aimed?no nothing was aimed.You're Nearly as touchy as the op

Original poster
ReanimatedSGB · 19/04/2018 22:57

Weezol. TBH I really wouldn't think so, simply because DS had a drastic haircut last Friday (nothing outrageous in itself, but his hair had been long for about a year and now it is short), so I think that people who don't know him well would be unlikely to recognise him now.

OP posts:
LipstickHandbagCoffee · 19/04/2018 22:59

BTP are not 101 General enquiries call 0800 40 50 40

Contact BTP

SandyY2K · 19/04/2018 23:02

I just don't understand your defensiveness and why you're angry.

Why do you think it was only your son the passer by was concerned about?

Why do you think even after questioning him, the police wanted to get him home safely?

The police had some reason to be concerned and they wanted to ensure your son got home ok.

I can understand your shock at the police bringing him home.

The transport police (BTP) are police.... they aren't micky mouse officers with time on their hands. They aren't community support officers and even they don't have time to walk children home who are fine.

I've sometimes heard kids mocking another...who was totally oblivious to it.

callies · 19/04/2018 23:03

If one of you was out minding your own business and the police took you home, wouldn’t you be pissed off? I’d be raging!

motorpink · 19/04/2018 23:05

If one of you was out minding your own business and the police took you home, wouldn’t you be pissed off? I’d be raging!

Exactly.

There must be a reason.

Monkeypuzzle32 · 19/04/2018 23:06

I cant believe you're moaning about this-don't waste police time by calling that number, just be grateful someone gave a toss.

Serena1985 · 19/04/2018 23:06

No. But then I don’t live my life in fear and/or hatred of the police.

TheDishRanAwayWithTheSpoon · 19/04/2018 23:07

Is the issue op that you are embarrassed your ds was walked home by the police and you are worried someone has seen him and got the wrong idea?

Because you seem really really angry about this and it's a bit strange. Your ds obviously looked vulnerable for one reason or another and the police accompanied him on his journey home. They didn't take him away from his friends or stop him doing anything they just joined him on his walk home because they were worried about him, there was absolutely no affect to your ds other than an increase in his safety and can't see how anyone could have a complaint about that?

I think if you contact the btp about this they will probably be a bit confused because this is a massive overreaction.

bbpp · 19/04/2018 23:07

Maybe his 'friends' were being sarcastic about their interest in the topic and taking the piss, your DS didn't recognise that and thus showed his vulnerability, so the stranger was concerned and wanted to help? Would explain why your son has nothing to report, rather than him lying to you.

They were being nice.

WorraLiberty · 19/04/2018 23:07

Though it is possible that they walked him home because they were heading that way, or because it only took them 5 minutes, I suppose. I just don't like it.

You don't like good old fashioned friendly policing? Confused

People have been calling for a return to this for years.

Personally I think the streets would feel like a far safer place if only the police had the time and resources to return to this sort of thing.

On such a hot day, I would have thanked them profusely and offered them a cold drink.

Slievenamon · 19/04/2018 23:07

If one of you was out minding your own business and the police took you home, wouldn’t you be pissed off? I’d be raging!

Are you 13? You do sound it, but do you appreciate the difference between children and adults?

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 19/04/2018 23:08

Callie of one of us was a 13yo adolescent being returned to mum by police,there would be a reason
If one of us was perusing in Superdrug only to be unexpectedly accompanied home,sure we’d be curious why

TheDishRanAwayWithTheSpoon · 19/04/2018 23:08

The police didnt take him home they accompanied him, he was ready going home they just joined him on his journey.

Franklyyes · 19/04/2018 23:12

You might not be getting the real story from DS perhaps only his interpretation. It sounds for some reason he was at risk either from his friends or an adult he was talking to ... maybe known to police

TheDishRanAwayWithTheSpoon · 19/04/2018 23:12

There were probably lots and lots lf children your ds's age and younger going home at the same time, the btp chose to accompany your child, that means he looked vulnerable, maybe he just looks naturally worried who knows? But they obviously thought he looked vulnerable, and it can only be a good thing they they took the time to check a vulnerable looking child was safe

LynetteScavo · 19/04/2018 23:13

That's what I though @bbpp , but apparently not. It seems this lad has several friends he travels with who are as enthusiastic about trains as him.

NotAnotherNoughtiesTune · 19/04/2018 23:14

Are you worried they have singled him out as being on the Spectrum - is that what is making you so angry?

I am registered blind. The amount of people that 'help me without asking is ridiculous and yes sometimes annoying but it's never made my mother so livid.

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