Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

When police say they are 'concerned' for mothers who abandon babies do they want to prosecute them?

103 replies

thebings · 01/02/2019 12:52

Not exactly an AIBU but wasn't sure where to put this...

I just saw a news article about a baby being abandoned in London on Thursday night, poor thing. I'm glad she was found!

One of the quotes from the article is that police are becoming increasingly concerned for the mother.

There are always quotes from police along these lines when this sort of thing happens, and I suppose my question is, do you think are they concerned for her health due to her possibly needing medical care having just given birth?

Or are they mainly saying that to try and get her to come forward without being afraid of prosecution (and would the mother be prosecuted in this kind of situation)?

I'm just curious really!

OP posts:
ItsMEhooray · 01/02/2019 13:24

"The police are concerned with preventing crime and arresting those who commit crime."

And protecting life.

Santaclarita · 01/02/2019 13:24

Genuine concern for their well being, and possibly to let them know they aren't in trouble as no doubt the mother would think that.

It's got to be a last resort that the mother abandoned her child. It's very rare for the person to be cruel enough to deliberately do that, but they sadly do exist. Most likely a last resort, panicked reaction though. Possibly caused by pnd.

Aaaahfuck · 01/02/2019 13:24

I always thought it meant for their physical and mental health. If you abandon a baby you're possibly not in the best frame of mind. Also you may have given birth without medical support for example at home.

YeahSorryBoutThat · 01/02/2019 13:25

I think generally, someone who has left a baby to be found has probably concealed the pregnancy. They are likely to have given birth unassisted. They may need urgent medical attention for post birth complications.

And they may be at high risk for further abuse.

HerculesMulligan · 01/02/2019 13:25

Lushlemming, that is such total and utter bollocks.

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 01/02/2019 13:26

If you went to anh nhs hospital in labour they would deliver your baby

Yes, East London ... and what do you think would happen if the mother is a 13,14,15 yo, with the potential for honour based violence? She'd be dead quicker than you could snap a twig.

Im dealing with an horendous case at the moment, it's opened all our eyes, you have no idea, no idea at all, we know the woman we are dealing with will be DEAD in 6 months, and she simply wont accept it, she thinks it will be fine and he'll forgive her. He won't . And we cant do anything about it.

Gentlygently · 01/02/2019 13:26

Why is the message put out by the police rather than, say, the local health authority, hospital of GP?

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 01/02/2019 13:27

Maybe the person in this case didn't give birth in a hospital or is from another company country and so isn't entitled to NHS care? I can't see someone going to a random hospital and being able to leave a baby with them, no questions asked.

yes they can.

Lushlemming · 01/02/2019 13:28

Hercules

Those opinions are not mine. They are from the people I know who have stated such.

What is your opinion based on? If you are a police officer how do you view victims and do you have time to actually think/care about them?

Are younger newer officers different than the old just about to retire ones I know?

Is there a change of culture? There might be but as I said, thise aren't my words.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 01/02/2019 13:30

They said that no, they have never cared about any victim, missing peraon, or anybody else.

They’re lying. There’s is not a single police officer who hasn’t spent at least one sleepless night thinking about a victim they’ve encountered. I can’t believe you actually believe that guff!

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 01/02/2019 13:30

@lusch The police will prosecute this mother if they find her. The police are not your friend. They won't waste their time talking to you unless they have to.

Shite! Grin

MrsJayy · 01/02/2019 13:32

Why is the message put out by the police rather than, say, the local health authority, hospital of GP?
I wonder if she is a missing person i mean i have no idea was just a thought.

MrsJayy · 01/02/2019 13:34

lush do you know many police officers why are you so against the police?

AskMeHow · 01/02/2019 13:36

Surely it's occurred to people that the person who abandoned the baby may not be the mother?

Idontbelieveinthemoon · 01/02/2019 13:37

I know (on a personal level) a few senior police officers and all have said the same when ever I have asked, and I have asked. They said that no, they have never cared about any victim, missing peraon, or anybody else. Their only concern is to cover their own backs, fill in all the forms and get the case off their list. They don't lie awake at night thinking about any victim, they lie awake thinking if they have done all the forms, made all the referrals and updated all the systems, but never about the victim.

This is utter bollocks. I have several members of the police force in my family and friends and they'd laugh hollowly at your bullshit here. One worked the case of Baby P and believe me, they had plenty of sleepless nights and were absolutely devastated in ways you can't fathom.

You can hate the police all you like. But don't assume that knowing a couple of police officers gives you any kind of insight into how every single member of the police force live, feel and work. All it means is that the ones you know are complete cunts.

PickleFish · 01/02/2019 13:37

I've always thought they would prosecute too, especially in the case where the baby died. I remember one a few years ago, where the baby did die, and they still kept encouraging the mother to come forward out of concern for her health. I can't imagine anyone doing so in that situation.

PickleFish · 01/02/2019 13:41

I've heard about the baby refuges in other countries where people can abandon babies safely somewhere they will be cared for, but I can't imagine it happens in the UK, not without questions being asked, the mother being traced, caught on CCTV, etc. - I'd be interested to know if it really does happen and is allowed in the UK. Clearly people are allowed to give a child up for adoption if they want, but in this way, without any details?

MrsJayy · 01/02/2019 13:41

Yes, East London ... and what do you think would happen if the mother is a 13,14,15 yo, with the potential for honour based violence? She'd be dead quicker than you could snap a twig.

I think you have misquoted me or ive not been clear i was replying to a poster who was talking about foreigners paying for NHS care I wasn't meaning girls should just go and deliver their babies.

TooManyPaws · 01/02/2019 13:44

Having worked as police staff previously for many years, including working for executive-level officers, I can assure you that most of them do care, very much. One guy I worked with stated that the proudest moment of his career was ensuring that his own boss was arrested for his crimes and that what his victims went through would never leave him. That same officer, now retired, recently raised a significant amount of money for charity in memory of another victim. All officers have memories of victims and people that haunt them; they are just unlikely to share them outside of the police family. A good number of officers are happy to stay at street level because that's where they feel they are helping people most. I would worry about the ethics of a police force that did not feel like that. The training is all about supporting and protecting the public.

epicclusterfuck · 01/02/2019 13:44

They can and do prosecute

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-28144169

Gettingbackonmyfeet · 01/02/2019 13:48

Lushlemming

That is absolute entire rubbish

I know several senior police officers across the UK and even if they thought it they would not be saying that .

If they did say that to you they are taking the mickey and winding you most definately up (I suspect if you have been silly enough to type that out they may have seen that sort of behaviour and been pulling your leg)

I see police officers go above and beyond to find people at risk (different profile to the ops example but still vulnerable people) I see them try to help access support , and I've seen them do wonderful things

I've met some unpleasant ones , some well meaning but unhelpful ones , I've met career ones who now do spend time behind a desk but they mostly as a rule got into it for the right reasons at least at the beginning ,and very very few of them would not do everything they can to support vulnerable people

None I have met would say what you type

Gettingbackonmyfeet · 01/02/2019 13:51

Epicclusterfuck

Both of those babies were abandoned in places that could have caused extreme harm

That's prosecution for harming or allowing harm to a child...not abandonment...its not always the same thing

A door step or a park is dangerous for a baby....abandoning a baby in a safe place is different

TinselAngel · 01/02/2019 13:52

It is a criminal offence. Kate Adie wrote a really interesting book about how the law should be changed.

TinselAngel · 01/02/2019 13:53

www.theguardian.com/books/2005/oct/22/society

Swipe left for the next trending thread