Police and DV - what would you do?

[JunoTheJellyFish]

So a few nights ago I found a very distressed and very drunk woman in the street and ended up calling the police - we eventually took her home but she was adamant that her partner was harming her and going to murder her. The police told me they would wait for me whilst I took her upstairs but when I came out five minutes later they had all gone.

I left and went home. Her partner was not home however her son was. I am feeling really confused and I am very worried about her. I did call the police back, explain what had happened and asked for a welfare check to be done to ensure her son was safe as well.

Would you follow up again or just leave it? I don't want to go back to the house as she was quite aggressive with me but at the same time I am really worried for her and her son.

If you are worried about the long term safeguarding of her son you need to contact social services directly and make a report to them.

Call social services and report it. But I wouldn't keep calling or think about going round to check.

Unfortunately a lot of women in this situation will go back to their abuser despite loads of people supporting them in not doing so, and a stranger hanging around won't help this.

Unfortunately a lot of women in this situation will go back to their abuser despite loads of people supporting them in not doing so, and a stranger hanging around won't help this.

This.

Notify social services.

If you see her again making the same claim, notify the police and/or social services as appropriate.

I wouldn’t leave her to get murdered no. I would follow it up with a call to SS. The problem is often that police don’t believe verbal threats though.

Thanks - I didn't think about social services as I guess I assumed that that would be automatic given the police contact. I will report it now to them.

It's really shaken me up a lot.

In terms of social services - i am happy to call, is it reasonable to ask if there's an email address as well so I have it written down that I have contacted them - I am happy for them to know my name etc but just would like something in writing so there's a paper trail too.

So her son was home alone?! How old?

Teenager.

Also feel it really weird the police left me and a child unknown to me in a property and just left...

Ok so I have spoken to SS - have asked for a written confirmation that they have received my concerns.

They said that police don't automatically notify them in some situations - this seems so bizzare!