To have called the police

[AriesTheRam]

I work in School and finished around an hour ago (not classroom staff)
As me and colleague left we saw a tiny girl walking a dog alone id say she looked around 2 at the oldest.We asked her if she was OK and where she lived but she didn't really know what we were saying.It was a busy main road we were on so I rang the police to let them know the child was alone.Id been on the phone for a min when mum came round the corner panicked.
A sibling had left the gate unlocked and the child had wandered out apparently.
I've since had a phone call back from the police who asked me questions about the appearance of the child etc and they said they were going to do a welfare check.

Would you have done the same? I feel bad that the family will be visited i suppose.

I was once driving along the street when I saw a toddler running down the road, completely alone. I pulled over and got out of the car. Just as I did, the poor mum came running round the corner, barefoot and in just a towel. These things happen, but the police were definitely the right people to call in your circumstances.

Yes of course it was the right thing to do. I found a wee boy and when I phoned the police they came and said the mum was frantic and had phoned them herself.

I had the same thing happen to me a few years ago. Except I sat with the kid for an hour while I waited for the police to turn up.

The parent didn't really seem to care when they eventually found them. Quite sad.

[quote AriesTheRam]@Ohtherewearethen I didnt I was still on the phone to them when mother appeared,I said its OK now the mum is here and the operator asked to speak to the mum.She provided her name and address when asked.[/quote]
You let a stranger use your phone? I hope you just turned it to loudspeaker
There's no way I'd let anyone use my phone at the moment

you should know what to do! of course you call the police
as part of your safeguarding training that all schools have and updated regularly

There's no way I'd let anyone use my phone at the moment

I had a similar experience doing the school run. I started to panic and wondered where the mother was as the toddler crossed the road by himself and he also looked about 2 years old! The mother did reappear...

You did the right thing OP. The child could of got knocked over!

I hope someone would have called the police if one of my much loved children had somehow wandered off. Parents will be asked a few questions and be quickly discharged when it becomes apparent the child is cared for, probably with useful advice about security.

Imagine if you hadn’t and walked on, mum hadn’t appeared yet and she’d tried to cross a road.

What else do you think you should have done?

You let a stranger use your phone? I hope you just turned it to loudspeaker
There's no way I'd let anyone use my phone at the moment
🤣🤣🤣

Absolutely did the right thing. At the time you weren't to know that the circumstances. The police would not consider this a waste of time and they will just pop around to do a welfare check- either everything will be fine and it was just a one off and matter closed or there may be other more serious problems which could use intervention.

@AriesTheRam you definitely did the right thing.

Have you done safeguarding training in your school?

The police would stop by. If there is no problem then all great. It takes a lot before any action can be taken against parents.
It might be logged, but if there is repeated incidents (however minor) then it can help build a picture if there was a problem.
The police might find an unsuitable home when they get there which would then save two children, or it could be referred to help a broken mother get support.

What I'm saying may be OTT in this case (sh!t happens!), but when you learn about baby P and similar cases- the missed opportunities are staggering.
It is never OTT with children.
The police and social services are balanced and don't want to take children from parents, but you raising it could be a chance for them to protect them.

@WorraLiberty I don't think I've ever seen you post anything even remotely helpful on this forum.

You let a stranger use your phone? I hope you just turned it to loudspeaker
There's no way I'd let anyone use my phone at the moment

Glue?

I can't see any evidence that OP has looked to speak to parent, understand the situation or anything. And then they claim to have had an immediate reaction from police? I would suggest more information is required here.

Yes Glue....🙄

You let a stranger use your phone? I hope you just turned it to loudspeaker
There's no way I'd let anyone use my phone at the moment

Get a life!!

@RightOnTheEdge

You let a stranger use your phone? I hope you just turned it to loudspeaker There's no way I'd let anyone use my phone at the moment 🤣🤣🤣

Why 🤣🤣🤣?

It’s fine. Better to react and perhaps overreact (although that’s easy to say with hindsight) than it is not to react at all. It’s fine. You did the right thing.

[quote difficulttod]@WorraLiberty I don't think I've ever seen you post anything even remotely helpful on this forum.[/quote]
Happy to help

Hahaha @WorraLiberty properly laughing at the annotated screenshot! 🤣🤣🤣

@EarringsandLipstick

Hahaha *@WorraLiberty* properly laughing at the annotated screenshot! 🤣🤣🤣

I can't believe how shit my handwriting is! 😱🤣

Yes of course you were right! You had no idea of the circumstances.

If there’s nothing amiss, the welfare check will find nothing amiss.

@winterfruit what are you talking about? The evidence was in front of me..a small child alone on the street I am certainly not lying about the police being prompt.They were brilliant in how on the ball they were.Hth.

I've had similar, a big baby (12 months or so) crawling along the pavement. I picked her up, rang police and started knocking doors.
When the mother showed up she swore at me and actually tried to convince the Police that I was trying to kidnap her child!!