To have reported my next door neighbour to the police?

[HeartsAndClubs]

This morning I am 99% certain that I heard my neighbour hitting his child. She was screaming in absolute terror and he was shouting at her while hitting her. It was loud enough that I could hear it through the walls. Then when she stopped screaming he carried on shouting. It’s now gone very quiet.

These neighbours are always shouting at one another, but never like this. I froze at the time so didn’t ring 999 before it had all died down, but I have reported it, and am about to report to social services.

But talking to a friend she said we don’t know the circumstances, and what if the child has SN and was screaming and head banging or similar and I should have stayed out of it.

I am 99% sure I’ve done the right thing. But what if friend is right? I’ve seen posts on here from parents saying their children scream constantly due to SN. I would hate to think that I have potentially put them under investigation if they might not have done anything.

If only someone could have "heard" the emotional and quiet verbal abuse my father subjected me to, and my mother aided and abetted. I would be a different person.

You did the right thing.

Sn or not you weren’t there, your friend wasn’t there you know what you heard and felt it was unacceptable. It will be looked into, there may be other issues there may not be but I’d rather speak up now than not and something worse happens. It’s everyone’s job to protect children. I’d even rather someone spoke up about me if they felt uncomfortable with my parenting - I can shout but never scream or hit. I was attacked etc by my dad as a child and no one called anyone, he was a nasty man and made my sister and I out to be liars as adults.

ZOMBIE THREAD

Resurrected by a troll poster with questionable motives.

It was the right thing to do. If there are no ongoing issues then there will be no further action. Too often people do nothing and a tragedy ensues.

Well done OP- even if he didn't hit anyone, a child should not be living with frequent shouting and arguing.

They’re from the Far East

From where?

@Outbutnotoutout

Let the police decide if there is an issue, you could have saved a child.

This

You've done the right thing. Well done for having the courage to follow though on your convictions

Have just seen an update thread from OP

It's at

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4338060-Does-anyone-remember-my-thread-about-reporting-my-neighbour-to-the-police-for-suspected-child-abuse

This is a zombie thread - we're locking it now.