Neighbour screaming at kids (and sounded like she hit them)

[storypushers]

Just that really. Thin walls. We've heard plenty of shouting at kids and they will definitely have heard us. Tonight seemed different though. She sounded very out of control. Kids were crying, obviously distressed not just being 'naughty'. It sounds like she hit one of them (or both of them) a few times. (I think). Their crying got louder. She was shouting 'you've ruined another fucking night'. As I said just out of control. I know kids push buttons but it sounded far worse than the usual 'get to bed' 'put your shoes on' etc.
is this the kind of thing people report? Who would I even go to with this? Is this normal? Any advice?
For content she's late 20s and the kids are 8 and 6.

It sounded like a hit and the crying worsened. All quiet now. I've done an online report. I will call police if it happens again. I'm Asian. She is Yorkshire born and bread

Did you all miss the part in the OP where she says 'it sounded like she hit one or both of them a few times' ?!?!

If this is honestly the first time you have heard anything like this then I wouldn't report. If she's approachable I would probably ask if she was ok saying something about how you over heard her the other night and she sounded distressed. It sounds like she needs some support. I'd report if it's a frequent occurrence or keeps happening.

We had to report neighbours. We heard them abusive screaming worried about domestic violence Trust your instinct and report
https://www.police.uk/pu/contact-us/what-and-how-to-report/how-to-report/

they don’t release that it was you who reported

Thankyou and well done @storypushers a you have absolutely done the right thing

Go on the nspcc website and report it anonymously. They’ll send it on to social services and they’ll then contact the school, doctors etc to see if there’s any other concerns about the children that will give them an idea of what might be happening in the home.

And this is why children fall through the cracks despite being abused throughout their childhood. Nice one.

Report it each time and keep a record too. This is a major child protection / safeguarding issue here

Well done OP.

You’ve done the right thing OP.

I've phoned the nspcc in the past and action was taken

Please do report if it is a regular occurance. You find your local social services number and you phone them.

I was that child (as was my sister) that may wouldn't have been abused for as long as we were if someone had phoned them up.

It isn't about getting the children taken away, just support given where needed.

I’ve worked in Safeguarding for 30+ years - you absolutely did the right thing in reporting it.

Call 999 and ask for a welfare check.. poor kids.

Well done, remember to keep yourself safe as well. If she suspects the report came from you it could trigger animosity but unless people like you speak out nobody will know what's going on behind closed doors x

Well done for reporting OP. I worked it children's services and it was reports like these that helped to build a picture of a child's home life.

Well Done, I’m Asian, dv family next were Sri Lankan. Any culture can do this abuse, well done for asking here

If this is the first and only time you've heard something like this, I'd go knock on her tomorrow and ask her if she's ok and needs any help? She may have reached the end of her tether and need to talk to someone. You have no evidence that she hit them.

I'd only report if it was an ongoing thing.

It is the right thing. Sometimes mums are poor/overworked/lonely/stressed etc and it all gets too much and they lose it. Those people need support

Others believe they are allowed to hurt and bully their kids and they need re educating and the kids protecting.

Who hasn’t had a meltdown occasionally?

But some people communicate through screaming/anger and punishment and they create a cycle of abuse and disfunctional relationships. The two are not the same.

Please ignore this. Safeguarding children is everyone's responsibility - lack of reporting is how so many awful cases have gone on unnoticed. It might be a single report that sits on a file with no further action but it could be another in a long line or reports that triggers a much needed action. Your job is not to decide if it justifies reporting or whether it constitutes abuse, this is what the professionals do based on evidence gathered or provided.

Apologies, a lag in posting and I can see you have indeed now reported. well done OP

Please do report it- there's good advice above about which channels to go down

Safeguarding children is everyone's business (in my opinion)

I would speak to her. Assumptions are not facts. I've been in a similar situation. My girls are 2.5 and they will cry hysterically if they're told off/put on time out/ etc. My neighbours actually spoke to my landlord and we had to explain that there's two children. So you're assuming you're constantly hearing one but in actual fault it's alternating between them both.

Sometimes I think assumptions can really get people in trouble and from my experience I would have preferred if my neighbour simply knocked on my door and expressed her concerns. I could then present her with facts and ease her mind. People put 2+2 together and get 5

Parenting is absolutely exhausting and I think we will never know someone's situation

Have a talk with her and explain you're concerns
Then say if it does continue escalating
You'll have to take matters further

please ignore this response.

this is real life, not a movie. Be realistic, keep a diary.

Report. At best this sounds like a mum who is struggling and might need some support. Really shocked at posters saying you might be adding 2+2 and getting 5. So what if you are? Better safe than sorry.
Don’t think ‘what if I’m wrong?’ Think ‘what if I’m right?’