Hearing Neighbour shouting at his children and hitting them

[Lemonnhoney]

Just heard by neighbour start shouting at his children.. started by telling them to close the blinds and get off them? Maybe and then saying ‘I’m gunna come up there and fing smack you if you don’t stop it’. Lots of swearing, lots of aggressive threats.

Then went into the house and could still here.. shouting and then explaining how the child did this to themselves and brought it upon themselves and ‘needs to do what they are f’ing told it doesn’t matter who they are’.. then after say to other child something about how he doesn’t care who did it they will get a wallop too if they ‘carry on’.

He clearly hit them. Although obviously didn’t see.

Not sure how old children are I would probably say late primary or little bit older.

Shit. I just felt so sad and awful listening to that unfold. What are you supposed to do in that situation?

The poor children. Surely even if you are messing about/misbehaving, it’s not worthy of that response.

I called the police after seeing a man screaming at his two young children (who were also not wearing nearly enough clothes for how cold it was). The police took it really seriously and went round.

These poor children don't have the power to get help so they need other adults to do the right thing.

Previous posters have a made a really good point, if it was a woman he was hitting I'm sure there would be less hesitation which is very odd.

DrSbaitso
I agree with you, but then there's a lot of parenting decisions that are apparently ok for children but would be problematic if it occurred between 2 adults.

One of my friends put it brilliantly:
Is your child capable of reasoning/understanding? If so, talk to them. If not, why on earth do you think they'll understand that you're violently assaulting them for their own good?

Please report it. Please report it to the NSPCC or police. I was that child once and I wish our neighbours had reported my abuse rather than turn a blind eye. My life would have been very different if they had.

Safeguarding is everyone's business.
If you see/hear or suspect any form of abuse you report asap to Social services and police.

Your actions could save a childs life. It's a no brainer really.

@Chicchicchicchiclana

What are you supposed to do? Do people seriously not know?

It would seem quite a few MNetters don't, if these constant threads are anything to go by 🙄

The sad thing is WorraLiberty that part of the reason well-meaning, concerned people feel they have to start a thread for confirmation is because 8 or 9 times out of 10 a thread about someone's safeguarding concerns ends up with a not insignificant number of posters telling the OP to mind their own business, you didn't actually see anything, maybe you should keep your nose out, everyone has bad days, you're just making stuff up, stop curtain twitching, etc, often with a healthy dose of "look what is wrong with the world when people are like the stasi willing to spy and report on their neighbours'.

This one has been a decent thread thankfully.

Have you reported it this morning OP?

I reported it to social services/council this morning yes. Told them what I heard and address.

And will be ringing the police if I hear it again. Would you ring 999 or 101?

Sorry to ask. I know it’s serious which is why I asked.. I was just unsure police would take it seriously as it is essentially over hearing and no evidence.

Completely agree @DrSbaitso it is utterly shit parenting. It doesn’t even work either. I’m sure the children don’t magically behaviour better in the future. It’s awful

@Lemonnhoney I would call 999. You are never going to be judged/penalised for using an emergency number when you hear someone being abused whether that's a child or no.

100% call 999 if you hear it again. Well done for reporting to SS.

I rang 999 when I heard ndn dragging his adult ds downstairs by his hair.... They arrived in minutes.. And ss came as they have younger dc..

I was one of these kids and I now wonder as an adult why my neighbours at the time never called the police. Do it, you won’t regret it and the children will grow up to thank you.

And to all the people on this thread who have reported a neighbour: bless you you kind and selfless people

I was advised by NSPCC that 'in the moment' (i.e. abuse happening that moment) then it's 999. If you saw/heard an adult on the street being hit you'd call 999, exactly the same, if not even more important, to call 999 for a child.

If it's that you see them in the garden and you notice bruises, or signs of neglect then I think it's 101 and ask for a 'welfare check'. You could also follow up with NSPCC and/or social services, to try to help them connect all the dots together.

Thanks for updating OP. I am relieved to hear you called it in.

It is illegal to hit your chold, unless you can use the defence of reasonable chastisement.

The fact that he was fing and blinding at them at the same time strongly suggests it’s not reasonable.

It’s not for you to make the call as to whether it is reasonable anyway. Call police, and ideally SS too. And the school if you know which one it is.

I reported online for this before. Police were round in about an hour.