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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Will School Report It?

17 replies

FooFighter99 · 08/10/2019 14:53

On the drive to work this morning, I witnessed a dad physically abusing his son in their car as we were in traffic (they were in the car behind me). At first I thought they were playing, like the dad was tickling the son as I do with DD in the car sometimes, but as I kept watching in my rearview mirror, it was obvious that what he was doing was becoming quite violent and sustained with him eventually undoing their seatbelts and seemingly threatening to throw the boy out of the car at the traffic lights (he looked to have only been 7 or 8).

There was also at least one other child in the back of the car in a car seat who honestly looked totally unphased by what was happening Sad

I made a mental note of his car reg and they turned off towards 1 of 2 schools in this particular part of town.

I rang the school I'm fairly certain the boy attends (uniform colour) and reported what I'd seen. The lady was lovely and noted down everything and said they would look into it, but will the school also report to social services and the police? Or should I make my own report?

I wish I'd jumped out of my car and leathered this dead-beat bastard myself, but we were on a busy road and who knows how he would have reacted. I feel guilty for not doing more though.

*I assume they were father and son, but I suppose he could be anyone to the boy...

OP posts:
ThebishopofBanterbury · 08/10/2019 14:55

I'm sure they will investigate it you definitely did the right thing!

PanamaPattie · 08/10/2019 15:06

Did you note the registration number of the car?

FooFighter99 · 08/10/2019 15:08

Yes @PanamaPattie I did, I even checked on the DVLA website to make sure I’d remembered it correctly. I gave it to the lady at school and I’ve written it down also.

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Drogosnextwife · 08/10/2019 15:12

Im sure the school will contact social services but I think I would phone them aswell. Probably the police too

FairyJuice · 08/10/2019 15:14

I agree with drogo, I would contact as yourself too. Poor boy Sad

LemonRedwood · 08/10/2019 15:14

The school should definitely report this, and if they have a decent safeguarding lead then they will. I'd still make my own report and also say you informed the school you presumed the child went to.

FairyJuice · 08/10/2019 15:14

ss

FooFighter99 · 08/10/2019 15:15

Thanks @Drogosnextwife, I’m going to call SS when work quiets down a bit.

I can’t stop thinking about that poor little boy.

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TheCatInAHat · 08/10/2019 15:16

You witnessed an assault- I would phone the police.

TheBouquets · 08/10/2019 15:26

I am glad there are people like you who will try to help a child who was being abused and the lengths you went to in doing so.
(flowers)

PanamaPattie · 08/10/2019 15:26

Yes, tell the police and SS. There's no guarantee the school will report it.

FooFighter99 · 08/10/2019 17:09

I spoke to SS who asked me to report it to the police, so I’ve reported it using the online form as the phone line was constantly ringing out. Hopefully someone will be in touch soon.

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Coffeeandchocolate9 · 08/10/2019 17:11

Good, you did the right thing.

That poor kid Sad

Drogosnextwife · 08/10/2019 17:50

Well done OP. I'm sure that little boy will be grateful that someone is looking out for him.

Loveoddthings · 08/10/2019 18:14

I’m trying to piece it together
How do you know threatening to throw out?

If you thought he was tickling him but he wasn’t - what was he doing?

FooFighter99 · 08/10/2019 19:29

@Loveoddthings he was grabbing the boys head and pulling him towards him, at first it just looked like play fighting (bear in mind were sat in non moving traffic so I’m watching them the whole time in my rear view mirror, and the lights take a good while to change, and we don’t get through them immediately) he then keeps grabbing at the boy and smacking/slapping at him, getting really quite violent. By this time the lights have been and gone so we’ve crawled forward a bit more and stopped again. Now we’re sat at the red light and I can see them arguing, the man undoes their belts and points to the pavement/gestures at the boy to get out. Then the lights cycle back to green and we move off and he turns left towards the school.

Does that make more sense?

I keep replaying it over and over and I wish I’d got out and dragged him out of his fucking car and given him a few slaps! See how he liked it. I’m a big lass (6ft and 20st!!! Pretty sure he’d have shit himself) Angry

OP posts:
FooFighter99 · 08/10/2019 19:30

I should add that the boy was sat in the front.

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