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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you report a 12 year old unattended on a train?

300 replies

GloGirl · 22/03/2021 00:09

If you saw two 12 year olds on a train without a grown up would you report it?

"Any adults who saw two 12-year-olds getting off a train on their own should have questioned that."

YABU - call the police!
YANBU - no, I wouldn't

BBC News - Missing Balloch schoolgirls spent night locked inside train
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-56476935

Really weird story.

OP posts:
eatsleepread · 22/03/2021 16:38

They were probably off their faces on Buckfast!

I have Glaswegian parents, and they would have fucking murdered me if I'd behaved like that. Firstly, because they'd have looked bad Grin and we'd have caused stress and inconvenience to others. Secondly, out of worry.

Changed days though. I can't see this mum taking much responsibility.

eatsleepread · 22/03/2021 16:39

And I don't believe for a second that they fell asleep. No one is that relaxed on a train when not in possession of a ticket!

SheldonesqueIsUnwell · 22/03/2021 17:51

eatsleepread

My arse would have been forking for weeks. And I would have had to do a written apology and a personal one. And been grounded.

If I did it now it would be the same. And I’m in my 50s.

My mam is the loveliest person ever. But if I had cause to make her black affrontit for the neighbours, let alone the country, I’d know it.

SheldonesqueIsUnwell · 22/03/2021 17:51

Forking????

DIRLING!!!!!!!!

Cocomarine · 22/03/2021 17:55

@eatsleepread

And I don't believe for a second that they fell asleep. No one is that relaxed on a train when not in possession of a ticket!
🤣

I had thought no chance of being asleep as:

  • they’re not 5
  • they were out on mischief
  • they had each other to keep themselves up

But very good point that not having a ticket would keep your eyes open!

Nohomemadecandles · 22/03/2021 17:58

I get that she's probably been terrified but the mother in the paper just sounds silly. She'd have been better saying nothing than making up that crock of shit! Fell asleep, my backside.

fourandahalfkids · 22/03/2021 18:01

Absolutely not. My dd is nearly 15 but could easily pass for an 11 year old and she has been riding the train to and from school since she was 11.

DdraigGoch · 22/03/2021 22:38

www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/scottish-news/6860366/amy-greenan-missing-scotrail-train-helensburgh/amp/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=scottishsuntwitter&utm_source=Twitter

CCTV has been reviewed and it turns out that staff did check the train twice. Looks like the girls were well hidden then.

Teachers on here may appreciate the different responses from each family. One apologises, the other goes for the "I believe whatever my child says" routine.

icdtap · 22/03/2021 22:42

CCTV has been reviewed and it turns out that staff did check the train twice. Looks like the girls were well hidden then

What a surprise. I'm astounded.
They weren't asleep. They were hiding!

PurpleWh1teGreen · 22/03/2021 22:46

@Snookie00

Whole story sounded totally fishy. Where were they all evening? Local kids have been jumping on and off trains all lockdown so they can drink alcohol uninterrupted as the conductors aren’t walking through the train. Suspect that these 12yo girls were up to no good.
Ah OK.

I couldn't fathom why on earth the girls didn't phone for help, but if they had a drink & fell asleep it sounds more likely.

callmeH · 22/03/2021 23:00

@NiceGerbil

Train driver has fucked up. They're supposed to walk through and check no one there before calling it a night.
Plenty of places to hide though, no doubt the two thought it was all very funny until they realised they were locked in. Being locked in was probably the safest place for them at that time of night. Hope there are no serious repercussions for the driver.
callmeH · 22/03/2021 23:01

@Nohomemadecandles

I get that she's probably been terrified but the mother in the paper just sounds silly. She'd have been better saying nothing than making up that crock of shit! Fell asleep, my backside.
The mother is looking for a windfall from both the press and the railway company, hope she gets neither.
DumplingsAndStew · 22/03/2021 23:35

The mother was very quick to publicly accuse people of trolling her online by doubting her daughter's version of events. Funnily enough, she hasn't referenced it since the CCTV was reviewed.

Viviennemary · 22/03/2021 23:40

They hid.That was obvious to anyone that this was the most likely scenario. Especially as they had no tickets. Trains are checked. This one was checked twice. Good that it could all be verified by CCTV. And good that one of the girls mothers has apologised.

Okbussitout · 22/03/2021 23:42

Kids that age travel on trains and busses alone all the time. So no spotting them on the tain in itself definitely isn't a cause for concern. I thinl tha issue is that no one checked the train before locking it up. Weird the mum wouldn't pick up on that as the issue.

SnackSizeRaisin · 22/03/2021 23:45

To be honest if she doesn't think 2 12 year olds should get a train, but her child did anyway, they probably shouldn't be allowed out at all. Why should complete strangers keep an eye on her child when she isn't even managing to do.it herself?

GrumpyHoonMain · 22/03/2021 23:47

Two drunk faredodgers hid and then got locked on a train. Happens all the time and with kids too - the story’s only newsworthy because it was two white girls that did it.

eatsleepread · 22/03/2021 23:48

@SheldonesqueIsUnwell

Brilliant!

Bouledeneige · 22/03/2021 23:54

I travelled on the tube at that age and no I wouldn't bat an eyelid.

The girls sound a bit bold and out of control though. The Mum obviously had quite a scare - I would too - but its no one's fault than her DD and her friend. Hopefully they frightened themselves. I think as a 12 year old getting stuck on a train overnight would've freaked me out.

GrandTheftWalrus · 23/03/2021 01:40

I travel on trains all the time without a ticket. I just buy it at the end of my journey if the barriers are closed. If not then a free ride for me.

And before anyone gets on high horse if my ticket office is closed I have to buy on train, there are no conductors on train to buy from just now. However in morning when going home from work I get a return ticket for returning to work that night.

DumplingsAndStew · 23/03/2021 01:58

@GrandTheftWalrus

Can't you pre-buy tickets?

GrandTheftWalrus · 23/03/2021 02:25

It's easier to buy on the train or at station as I'm only on the train 2 days a week at most and I think the only option is a season ticket. I might be wrong though.

GrandTheftWalrus · 23/03/2021 04:18

Bored on nightshift and I looked at the app, I can buy tickets on the trainline, shall do that from now on.

Also seen an updated story about the 2 girls, cctv has shown that they deliberately hid when the train was getting checked etc

BritWifeinUSA · 23/03/2021 05:45

If several people got off and on the train at the same time how would anyone know if they were alone or with one of more of the adults that were there? 12-year-olds wouldn’t be holding an adult’s hand like a 4-year-old would to get on and off a train.

DdraigGoch · 23/03/2021 06:57

@GrandTheftWalrus

I travel on trains all the time without a ticket. I just buy it at the end of my journey if the barriers are closed. If not then a free ride for me.

And before anyone gets on high horse if my ticket office is closed I have to buy on train, there are no conductors on train to buy from just now. However in morning when going home from work I get a return ticket for returning to work that night.

If there isn't a store detective on duty at the supermarket, do you walk out without paying then too?
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