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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To call the police over this girl screaming?

181 replies

MrsTumbletap · 03/07/2021 22:12

I can hear a girl screaming across the road in what at first sounded like a 9-12year (I'm guessing) having a tantrum. I couldn't make out what she was saying but could hear the parents shouting and screaming back.

This was about at 30minutes ago. I thought initially it's a parenting issue, not my business. Now I can clearly hear her screaming "I want to go to my mums house!" She is screaming it over and over and over at the top of her lungs. Really screaming, they are screaming back, it is relentless. It's awful and making me feel like I need to go round there and help. (I won't of course it is clearly quite volatile in there). I can hear this with their windows closed and a drive in front of their house and a road between us and my windows closed.

What would you do?

Do I leave it alone, not my business?
Call the non emergency number and report?

OP posts:
Fiddliestofsticks · 03/07/2021 22:48

The girl clearly needs some sort of help. Wheybee the issue abuse by her guardians or angry child in care just struggling to come to terms with her situation or whatever, she needs more support. This might help get her that.

Titsywoo · 03/07/2021 22:49

Sounds like you may have helped the parents as well as the child in this situation!

Tossblanket · 03/07/2021 22:49

Of course call tbe police.

justasking111 · 03/07/2021 22:49

You did the right thing, it's distressing for everyone in a case like this

Wherediditgo · 03/07/2021 22:49

@MrsTumbletap

She is still screaming though. With two parents (step parents, foster parents?) and two big police officers in there.

Arghhhh it's so horrible, it's making me feel sick

Bless you OP - you clearly have empathy and a kind heart. Just proves you did the right thing Flowers
SunshineCake · 03/07/2021 22:50

I'd record the noise if I could as well as calling.

Queenie6655 · 03/07/2021 22:51

Well Done op
This makes me so sad

If it is an innocent story then so be it

Always err on side of caution
Xxxxx

SheldonesqueTheBstard · 03/07/2021 22:51

chickenyhead

Aye. Poor wee soul.

StarlingsDarlings · 03/07/2021 22:52

You did the right thing. I hope she is ok.

rach2713 · 03/07/2021 22:53

I'm glad you rang you can never be to careful ..

Theunamedcat · 03/07/2021 22:55

Poor thing I hope she gets heard and they dont just gloss it over

espressoontap · 03/07/2021 22:56

Well done, OP. Totally the right thing. I hope things calm down soon x

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 03/07/2021 22:56

Better safe than sorry, hopefully the police can resolve the situation

Martyitsyourkids · 03/07/2021 23:02

Call the police. Def better to be safe than sorry.

Saltyslug · 03/07/2021 23:03

You’ve done the right thing. My kids a screamer sometimes when tired and overwhelmed so it could just be that but potentially it could be something serious and your intervention could be critical

Foofer · 03/07/2021 23:03

I think you’ve done the right thing too. Hopefully things turn out ok

Themeparklover · 03/07/2021 23:05

leave it, they're just arguing she's clearly just a hormonal preteen if you're that concerned knock on the door

Fiddliestofsticks · 03/07/2021 23:06

@Themeparklover

leave it, they're just arguing she's clearly just a hormonal preteen if you're that concerned knock on the door
Worst advice ever.
xprincessxjanetx · 03/07/2021 23:06

I wouldn't usually call for that kind of thing but if it had gone on for as long as you describe and had noises accompanying it that sounded concerning then I definitely would have called. The police obviously thought you were right to phone or they wouldn't have come out so quickly. It may just be a teenage 'strop' but you never know. You have done the right thing, OP.

Martyitsyourkids · 03/07/2021 23:07

Posted too soon...you did the right thing and I'm sure the poor girl would thank you x

Hugoslavia · 03/07/2021 23:07

How awful for her. Such a terrible situation for a child to be so distressed.

namesnamesnamesnames · 03/07/2021 23:07

That sounds really scary. It could even be that the child/teen is a danger to the parents.

You did the right thing.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 03/07/2021 23:07

@Themeparklover

leave it, they're just arguing she's clearly just a hormonal preteen if you're that concerned knock on the door
Even if that was good advice it's a bit late as the police have already turned up. Obvioulsy they didn't need to as you know what's up by the power of the words on a screen
TellmewhoIam · 03/07/2021 23:08

How many people normalise 2 adults shouting at a child for the better part of an hour 😣
I'm not surprised the OP had a bit of a freeze reaction and it's wonderful to see the Mumsnet support helping her unfreeze 😊💐

Womendohavevaginasnick · 03/07/2021 23:08

I'd rather over react than not react.
I'd rather my exes neighbors phoned the police so my DD distress was noted.
I'd rather some busybody phoned the police if they thought my daughter was at risk because I'd raised my voice once that day than someone not phone when a Child really is at risk.x

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