To press charges against this parent?

[Rosegarden10]

I've name changed for this as obviously this is very outing.

On Friday, my child attended a school disco. Whilst they were at the school disco, another parent broke into the school and was banging on the hall doors to get in. When she couldnt access the hall she kicked the glass door and broke the window smashing the glass. The children and adults inside were terrified and they had to evacuate the children in an emergency lockdown procedure.

My child (and the majority of the other children) are now traumatised. My child doesnt want to go back to school tomorrow. The police arrived at the scene however it doesnt appear as though they arrested her as she the parent was on the parent WhatsApp group trying to justify her behaviour an hour after the incident.

Can I press charges against this woman for the trauma she has caused my child and the other children? I am so angry!!

captainBrickbeard jinx no comebacks

If this happened where I teach, my first thought would be for the child of this mother. We have no idea what is going on here. Obviously this was a horrible incident for the children and adults inside but have a thought for the family of this woman. SS may already be involved (could be why she is angry with the Head). Her being arrested won’t help safeguard her child, it could just add to the chaos and instability for what is possibly a vulnerable child. I know I’m projecting but I would guess there either is already SS involvement or the mother is having a mental health crisis, in either case not helped by her being arrested.

The being armed bit, I presumed is because she was threatening to kill the headteacher

So who told you this? You said yourself there were no parents present and I can’t imagine any member of staff sharing this information.

Is she still on the WhatsApp group or have you kicked her off ? Has any parent confronted her about it ?

I think you would be unreasonable to try and sue the parent because, shit happens.
Our schools doors are locked. Standard practice in our whole area.

Those scoffing at the idea of it being a terrorist Attack should think about Dunblabe or schools in America. I’m sure the parents and relatives of those lost in those atrocities would agree with you. Or maybe they wouldn’t.
Reassure your child op.
Keep your child far far away from this woman and her family.
And thank god it wasn’t a terrorist attack.

I think you are being a bit dramatic. My dd’s School had a lock down incident a couple years ago and none of the kids were terrified, no one assumed a terrerest attack.

It was a angry parent not a armed gun man in a balaclava. I’m sure the kids will get over it, you can’t protect them from ever seeing a mad angry woman swearing 😐

No, the OP can't sue, the Police probably made the appropriate decision.

No one says she could. Simply that she could try, if she really feels she HAS to do something to make this woman pay.

Or whoever you want to thank.

Are you wanting to sue because you’re genuinely concerned your dc is scarred for life and will need continuing therapy, or is it for the cash? If it’s for the latter, I’m sure one of those ambulance chaser claim firms might take on your case on a no win no fee basis. Not minimising the issue btw, but I’m sure this time next week the kids will have completely forgotten what happened and will have moved on to the next drama.

Sounds horrible. What did she say on WhatsApp?!

Drama. An angry lady broke a window. She sounds awful but it was dealt with and is over. Was her child at the disco? I imagine they are more "traumatised" and more upset about going in tomorrow due to the shame and sheer embarrasment.

@CountessVonBoobs Are we assuming she "doubtless has fuck as all money" because all crazy/drunk people are on benefits?! Or is it simply that anyone with normal finances is too naice to act like a violent loony? If not can you explain your comment? Bit of a strange thing to say.

I thought only the police could charge people? You can't 'press charges' because you aren't the victim of a crime. No doubt it was distressing but any charges brought would be for criminal damage and be nothing to do with your child.

So who told you this? You said yourself there were no parents present and I can’t imagine any member of staff sharing this information.

The OP also apparently knows that ‘the majority’ of the other children are also ‘traumatised’. And that they thought it was a terrorist attack. All without actually being there.

Perhaps she’s psychic.

I am not sure why some of you are trying to make out that what this woman did is ok? The kids in that disco ranged from reception to year 6, I don't think anyone has the right to say how they should feel!

Nobody has said what she was ok

But at the end of the day, the emergency processes in place worked, no-one was harmed and you can now help your children to feel comfortable going to school.

You say you want to press charges for trauma...how will that help your children get over it?

So who told you this? You said yourself there were no parents present and I can’t imagine any member of staff sharing this information.

I was wondering the same. Children's accounts aren't really reliable in situations like this. All it would take is for a year 6 to mention killing and there starts the rumours.

I'm also confused that the disco was for children aged 4-11, usually they are split to accommodate different key stage groups.

In answer to your question, no you can't press charges for your child's trauma. You could try and sue her in the civil courts but you would have to prove that your child was tramatised, not just upset, over it. You'd need medical evidence to do that.

I think it is always a shock to parents (and children) when they witness aggression from a parent. I have seen it happen at a Teacher consultation session with all tables in the Hall and a parent physically assaulted a member of staff. It is frightening to watch (and frightening to be the member of staff being attacked). Hospitals, stations etc have warning notices reminding members of the public to be polite to staff. Schools don't generally have these and try hard to be a welcoming, safe place. The trouble is that this kind of aggressive act will make staff less likely to volunteer for social events that are hugely beneficial to children.

OP, I agree this must have been very frightening pupils and staff members. I too am surprised that she wasn’t arrested for communal damage.

I would expect that the HT will move to permanently ban the parent from the school premises. This has happened at my school on a couple of ocassions. We have a zero tolerance policy, and my HT is firm in enforcing it.

As regards the doors being locked, this is entirely normal practice due to safeguard children.

To those saying that it’s a health and safety hazard or breach of fire regulations, this is not so. In my school, in the case of a fire alarm or emergency evacuation, all fobbed doors are automatically released to allow people to safely exit the building.

I very much doubt the children thought they were being subjected to a terrorist attack 😂😂😂

I actually agree with you op
It would have been very scary! We have just had a letter sent out about a school lockdown etc!
So what if the woman has mh issues - I do but I would never break the glass in a school with a school hall full of children!

Her behaviour is inexcusable whatever her reason!

Hopefully she is banned and prosecuted for criminal damage!

Doors were probably locked for the safety of the children and there would be two doors for fire exits in the hall they were in.

The children and staffed would have been scared - a lot of teachers have had training now on what to do when this happens. Guns, knives, acid attacks and terrorists are an actual thing in the uk. A common thing too!

Just because the police didn’t take action there and then doesn’t mean they won’t. You could follow it up with a phone call if you felt the matter was that serious and enquire if your witness statement is required. Chances are the officers knew they were in for a big night and this appeared minor at the time, no threat to the general public but that doesn’t mean she won’t get s knock on the door and a bill for the broken glass

FOR THOSE WHO CANT READ - I WASNT THERE!!!!!!!

The CHILDREN especially the older ones were coming out crying saying they thought it was a terror attack. Kids watch the fucking news!!!!! There are posters up in shops and schools in our area about what to do in a terror attack! How thick can you be to assume that children don't know what happens in this world and are not scared by it?!

The blinds in the hall were down as it was a disco and they needed it dark!! Obviously!!! So the children or the staff, at first, couldnt see who it was! It could have been a bloke for all they knew - yes that's sensible to send a member of staff outside when that person could have had a knife or a weapon. Fucking wake up, people carry weapons! The staff must have been terrified not knowing what the hell was going on with some lunatic outside screaming they were going to kill someone!

I cannot believe some of the responses on here - obviously you live in fucking fairy land that you think that people don't go into schools armed and willing to kill people!

No one is saying it's ok. It must have been frightening for your child and other choldren. But pressing charges? Really? As others have said, a brisk conversation about how well the teachers did and how adults do stupid things sometimes when they are angry but the lady is very sorry now etc will do. Pressing charges will just prolong the trauma anyway.

The children were evacuated in a lockdown procedure; i believe a lot of them found that pretty traumatic. The minimising comments on this thread are bizarre.

Rose try reading the responses yeah? It makes life much easier