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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:
VerticalHorizon · 03/07/2021 23:11

Call. There can be no greater regret than NOT calling if anything were to happen.

Always call.

RestingPandaFace · 03/07/2021 23:13

@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

At least with 2 police in attendance you can be fairly sure that she is safe. It could be all manner of things, but they won’t leave her in immediate danger and they will refer on to social services for further support.
Ilovenandos · 03/07/2021 23:13

You need to call now

Loubiemoo · 03/07/2021 23:13

You’ve done the right thing OP

AttaGirrrrl · 03/07/2021 23:14

RTFT

Geamhradh · 03/07/2021 23:15

@Ilovenandos

You need to call now
She called ages ago and the police have been.
Original poster
MrsTumbletap · 03/07/2021 23:15

Police have left and from what I can make out grandparents and mum have come and collected the child. She was actually a lot younger than I thought possibly about 7ish, smaller and holding mums hand.

It could be absolutely nothing but it could also be the piece of the puzzle that social services need, or the explanation for the bruises, or catching out step parents off their face on drugs, or a bloody pedophile ring! I might watch too much line of duty.......but you never actually know do you?

OP posts:
xprincessxjanetx · 03/07/2021 23:16

I am really pleased to read your update and so glad that the police listened to the young girl. It could be 'nothing' and just be her preference but there could be more at play than you know about so it's a good thing you called.

VerticalHorizon · 03/07/2021 23:17

There are many reasons she could be screaming - mental health issues, alcohol, rowing, physical threat.

Nobody should be gambling on what the reason is. I utterly feel for parents who may have troublesome children and the embarrassment of the police showing up, but it pales into insignificance against the number of women who will suffer because people didn't call.

Never hesitate to call.

LibrariesGiveUsPower45321 · 03/07/2021 23:18

Well done OP.

Poor kid. Even if no ones actually done anything wrong that’s an unbearable amount of distress she was in. Always better safe than sorry.

RampantIvy · 03/07/2021 23:19

Well done for doing the right thing OP.

SheldonesqueTheBstard · 03/07/2021 23:19

Hopefully things will turn out on.

Your work here is done. 🌻

SheldonesqueTheBstard · 03/07/2021 23:20

Ok. Not on.

Frownette · 03/07/2021 23:20

That's sweet she's back with mum

BumbleFlump · 03/07/2021 23:21

Thank you OP 😢

Mangofandangoo · 03/07/2021 23:21

You people know 999 and 101 go through to the exact same place right? They don't just take their time looking at things because it came through 101

Cactuslockdown · 03/07/2021 23:21

Well done OP. Now you can relax Flowers

blossomtree323 · 03/07/2021 23:21

I'm pleased to hear the child is ok OP.

LarsErickssong · 03/07/2021 23:22

@Mangofandangoo

You people know 999 and 101 go through to the exact same place right? They don't just take their time looking at things because it came through 101
But it takes a lot longer to get through to 101, well it certainly does in my area anyway (never been on hold for less than 20 minutes)
QueenBee52 · 03/07/2021 23:23

OP you did the right thing.. 🌸

Geamhradh · 03/07/2021 23:23

@Mangofandangoo

You people know 999 and 101 go through to the exact same place right? They don't just take their time looking at things because it came through 101
Yes. It was mentioned on another police thread earlier.
30degreesandmeltinghere · 03/07/2021 23:24

Well done op.. Too many people stay silent.. I reported my ndn. No regrets. They knew it was me. No hard feelings. That dc needed someone to be their voice tonight. Be proud it was you op.

xprincessxjanetx · 03/07/2021 23:24

It takes much longer here to get through to 101 and 111 then it does to get through to 999 here as well.

Maggiesfarm · 03/07/2021 23:24

Thank goodness she is back with mum

Whatever the reasons, you did exactly the right thing.

Sleep well tonight, op.

xprincessxjanetx · 03/07/2021 23:24

than* not then