Definitely reporting now - is 101 the right number?

[PinkStarAtNight]

I started a thread the other week about whether I should report neighbours to SS because of child screaming through the night, and other things like mum being drunk in pool and not looking after the small children, smoking weed etc

Just now I've heard really really loud bangs coming from next door. No idea what it was, kind of sounded like a window being bashed closed again and again or something heavy being smashed down on worktops. Then lots of screaming from mother - 'STOP! STOP NOW' This went on for a while. It was so loud it sounded like it was coming from our upstairs (it's a semi detached)

Then child screaming and crying, sounds like same child from the other night. She is the smallest one I think. A toddler.

Then their back door opened and the crying child was pushed outside, with mother screaming 'GET OUT NOW! GET OUT THERE!...ITS TOO MUCH EMI. TOO MUCH' Then she slammed the door shut. The other kids were outside on the swings. They are a bit older but still young. They were trying to comfort small crying child.

They were saying to mum through window 'mum I can't talk to her because she just keeps asking for the door to be opened'. The mum shouted back 'No!'

A few mins later mum opened door and growled 'get in here'. Child still crying. Then I heard her say to slightly older children 'right I'm going upstairs, sort her out and DO NOT let her upstairs because honest to god I've enough.'

All is quiet now, but I really do need to report now don't I? I am in hold to 101. Have been a while now. .

Is 101 the right number? Or now everything is quiet should it be NSPCC or SS?

I live at home with my mum. She has just got home and I've told her why I'm calling 101 and she says she doesn't want me to call because she doesn't want any trouble. She thinks the police will come here and we will be in trouble with the neighbours.

What should I do?

Pick up the phone and report your neighbour before she kills that child. There’s so much cruelty to children please call the police and social services even if you have to lie to your family and deny you have called. If anything bad happens you will never forgive yourself as this has to stop right now. These children are depending on you to stop this as no one else will. Please let us know what happens 😢

When I had a similar situ, I called NSPCC. You can report online or speak to someone and raise a concern anonymously.

calling 999 will cover both concerns, the possible abuse and need for support for the mum. It’s not the job of the concerned public to make that judgement. The police and social care will assess.

If anything 101 and ask them not to call to your mum's house if it's causing her a worry.
Not council unless a council property and they would then contact the social services themselves as the social services are a council department. The social services are not operating legally if they put in an appearance on someone that is private owned. The police, if anything, should do them for suspicion of neglect or possession of class B drug (weed) not contact the social services but a visit from them might be enough. You are probably worried about what could be happening and yourself not saying anything.

Similar situation a few months ago. Repeatedly hearing a child (boy) screaming "no, no, fuck off, leave me alone". Sometimes in the afternoon, and sometimes it is middle of the night. I finally called 999 when it happened 2am in one night and the boy just kept screaming.
999 picked up, I gave them the address of my area, and description of the pattern. The operator told me that she would send someone to check. I am not sure what happened afterwards. The frequency reduced but I still can hear the boy scream and people shouting at each other....
Very sad to think a child grow up in that environment. Hope this information helps. You definitely should call.

@Fingeronthebutton what do you mean, 'now a baby has been conjured up?'
I said from the start she has young children, one of which is a toddler who is the one I heard crying in the night and the one shut outside. Also the one who fell in the garden while the mum wasn't watching her and had left her with the other kids. If you're referring to when I said she was cooing to the baby, I meant the toddler. IMO an 18 month old is a baby. I was using toddler/baby interchangeably.

I'm not saying she's a psycho. I've said I'm unsure now as to what's going on but I took the advice of other posters to report and let the professionals decide. I just don't feel the behaviour is normal. I think you're the one with the problem if you find it necessary to be this rude.

@humdingle she was singing and cooing to the baby (and when I say baby I mean the toddler because I think an 18 month old is a baby) and five seconds later was screaming aggressively. Personally I don't think that's normal. Also, it wasn't so much that she brought the girls in early so she could go to bed, it was the change in her voice and how she sounded high or drunk and how her mood seems to fluctuate.

But I've already said I may be wrong and I've left it to the professionals to judge. There's no reason for you to be rude.

@SeenYourArse have you got kids? If not, please will you continue to not? Because if you really mean what you just wrote, you're honestly not fit to bring up kids.

What the OP describes is NOT normal - or acceptable - parenting. It's abuse, and a disaster waiting to happen.

If you had an iota of empathy or insight you'd be able to understand that all by yourself.

OP you’ve done the right thing and you know next time if you consider the children might be at risk at that moment to ring 999. I’d leave this thread now and just get on with your life knowing you have tried to help.

You can report concerns online to social services. I've done that before or contact child's school or nursery, I've done that before too. Or walk into a police station.
But if there is immediate concern that child is going to get hurt 999

I have a totally different view on this! Is it possible this is a child with challenging behaviour? Is it possible the child was bashing the place up and part of the noise? The words of the mum sound absolutely desperate to be honest.

I'm a loving, dedicated, caring mum and have never hurt my child yet I tell you, you might have heard something similar from my home during ages 3 to 4 ish. The bashing and banging was horrendous, and it wasn't me. This woman sounds potentially desperate.

I also accept there is a risk the child is being hurt. Being sent outside isn't great. You know I did this once when I had reached the end. I knew it was the only way to help me calm myself down. Child was in garden for about ten minutes. I could see him. It is now apparent that my little one is neurodivergent.

Please just be careful before doing this. Is she the sort of person you can speak to ? Telling her you hear things and are worried about her and everyone in the family is a really good start. x

This is chilling to read, haunting 😢

Totally agree.

The number of posters here erring on the side of caution is shocking. A child could be killed.

After reading a few more messages further, also then appreciate it could be the "theory" of naughty child syndrone - the naughty - ages of 2,3,4's.

Equally a child with behavioural difficulties - who knows if that's why the mother is screaming.

But if any of the above - STILL NEEDS BEING INVESTGATED.

Good Luck.

I wouldn’t tell her, just report anonymously

You've done the right thing. Don't forget Logan Mwangi was well dressed and seemed happy and well cared for.

With regards to the dog you need to have a chat with the RSCPCA, let them make a decision on the dog. Dogs can live outside but those who have their dogs outside are legally expected to provide adequate shelter from the elements. Outside dogs are used to living outside and feel safe and content there. This is dog is shoved outside without any regard for its needs and is also being physically and emotionally abused. By law, you are required to provide an appropriate environment for any pet that lives with you. https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/pets/did-you-know-owners-must-make-sure-their-pets-are-happy-by-law

No need to speak to people like that! So blooming rude!

'Before she kills that child's 🙄

I had the misfortune to be living next to a mum her partner and very very young baby, there was screaming, shouting, drinking and drug taking. I was too scared to ring the police, because they were both very violent and I’m in a wheelchair and was genuinely afraid of what they would do if they found out I had rang the police. I did however phone social services. One night they beat the baby to death, the baby had so many very distressing injuries. I now have the complete guilt that I didn’t phone the police, however I learnt that a lot of people did contact the police and social workers, but sadly nothing was done.
if I had the chance again I would definitely ring them and I would ask people to do the same.

Your mum comes from a different generation where abuse was ‘normal’ & brushed under the carpet. Things are different & we know better.
Get those children support, please. Personally I’d have called 999 not 101 if the banging & screaming was that extreme.

Ask your mum how she would feel about. Ring the Daily Mail headline. “Baby X case: Woman refused to call police because ‘I didn’t want any trouble’ “ or ‘Neighbour stopped her daughter raising concerns because she thought it would ruin her BBQ’

Sorry for typo, I meant ‘how she would feel about being a Daily Mail headline’

Are you for real? The children have gone through more misery because you have delayed for weeks, now you are pissing about on here when you should be contacting the police. I'd have called 999 when I heard the screaming. Pull yourself together.

It's better to report and be wrong than not to and be right. If other neighbours were out shouting "stop" then surely it could have been any of those reporting.

Can you report online anonymously? I don't know what options you have there. But I know we can do that here in the states.

As someone who was once that small child, please call.