A stranger threatened to "shoot" me today when I was with my child. was I being unreasonable to call 999?

[BlackFriYay]

I was on my way to collect DC from school, toddler was with me on reins. The seats were full so we went upstairs where there was only a few seats left, next to other passengers.

I sat on the nearest one and put toddler on my knee, I didn't pay any attention to who I was sitting next to as i was sitting sideways with my feet in the aisle and my back to the person occupying the window seat. Toddler was squirming a bit and wanted to get down so as soon as another double seat became available we moved across there.

A man sitting in the area we moved from started playing loud music through his phone, some daft parody song on repeat.

As our stop approached I got up, lifted the little one and was walking towards the stairs, past the strange bloke with the music. As I passed him he said not to ever sit next to him again or he'll shoot me in the face. Confused as hell, I looked up as we got to the stairs to see if he was talking to me and he was. He then said "oh is that a woman?" IE me, then added "never mind I'm still going to do it" whilst making shot gun gestures toward me.

I couldn't get down the stairs quick enough and tried to tell the driver what had happened but he could barely hear me through the plastic. I didn't want a scene I just wanted to get as far away from the prick as I could.

In a panic I called 999 which I'm not sure was the right thing to do or not, perhaps 101 would have been more appropriate. They've made an appointment to come and see me at home on Tuesday which is the earliest appointment they have.

I asked whether they're going to make any attempt to look for the man as he seems dangerous threatening lone women with children. They said they'd circulate his description and If any officers see him they will talk to him?!

Do you think that is sufficient? Am I blowing this way out of proportion?

I felt so, so vulnerable and scared but they don't seem to think it's anything major.

Yanbu, how frightening. Sounds like he was mentally ill.

So what do you think the police SHOULD be doing in this scenario then?

That's horrible! You were absolutely right to tell the police, it's threatening behaviour at the very least.

.

Threats to kill is a criminal offence.

Honestly, I'd have just assumed he was on drugs or mentally unwell. I wouldn't have rung the police because there's really not much chance of them being able to identify him.
It's not nice though, I appreciate you were shook up.

I don't think you were wrong to report this to the police but, yes, 101 would have been more appropriate. It wasn't an emergency since it sounds as though you had been able to leave and he was no longer threatening you.

You absolute did the right thing and the bus potentially has CCTV on it. Look how many other idiots like this were seen as "just talk" who commited violent acts? Even if it is a mental health issues, we all know now these need to be taken seriously, and frankly an appointment on Tuesday is disgustingly short sighted of the police.
It's threats to kill, from someone you had never met in a public place. It should also set alarm bells under the prevent scheme.

I would contact the bus company so they are aware.
It really blows my mind that after incidents like Nottingham and Reading, police still drag their feet on warning signs like this. Yes he could be a random nutter, or a drug user. He coud just find himself funny. But why risk it?

If the police at the end of the 999 call didn't think it was worth investigating, then they wouldn't have made the Tuesday appointment with you. So clearly it's worth them talking it over. Fine - 101 is there, and could have done the same, but the end result would be the same.

Last few times I've rang 101 the wait time has been close to an hour.

I'd also contact the bus company, separately, log it with their customer services with date time bus number etc as they may review footage.

I would have assumed he was either ill or high and reported him via 101 and informed the bus company as you couldn’t get the driver to understand you. Do you know if this company has CCTV? Some buses do.

Bus Nutters are real.
As are Tube nutters.
@BlackFriYay On Tube my son( toddler) was pushed to floor by a hideously aggressive man who made threats to kill. Vile man also grabbed me when I asked why he’d violently pushed a child over.

Wish I’d reported it.

Hope you do report it.

I disagree with all of you. If this man now goes off and carries it out against another member of the public everyone would be saying ‘He threatened to kill someone else minutes earlier; why wasn’t it acted on?’

We need to be wiser about red flags before the event not just after; and threatening to kill a woman with a toddler (or anyone for that matter) is a MASSIVE red flag.

As I mentioned threats to kill are a criminal offence in themselves so it needs to be investigated. Thankfully you don’t get to go round threatening to kill people with impunity.

Have you contacted the bus company? They might be able to check their CCTV and I'm sure they won't want this person on their buses. Sorry that the police fobbed you off.

Given that he said "next time I'll shoot you in the face" then it sounds like he is at least suggesting he is carrying a gun. Which is an emergency.

@Naptrappedmummy er, the police ARE going to look into it

Yes I know. Others are saying ‘nothing you can do’, I’m explaining there is.

This is so true

This and yet again pathetic response from the police

You did absolutely the right thing.

I would of also informed the bus driver.

This person should no be making intimidating threats to you. They may have mental health issues, but IMO that’s no excuse. No one should be made to feel afraid.

A couple of months ago I was in my local park with my dog and a man came up to me & said he was going to stab me & my dog. I calmly walked away & didn’t engage. It couldn’t of been better timing - as I was walking out of the park 2 police officers were walking in and I told them what had happened.

I hope you are ok after the incident.

That’s awful. Did anyone intervene? I find it absurd how there’s this drive for people to abandon cars and use public transport but in reality it’s not always that safe (or reliable). I told a train staff about a man who was tapping me and other random women on the shoulder and acting very strangely in our carriage. Even pointed him out and the train staff kind of shrugged and said “just ignore him “.

My former boss was on the train to work once on a Monday morning and this man started harassing a woman. He intervened and then was threatened himself. Him and another guy managed to wrestle the guy off the train.

OP you definitely did do the right thing. If he was mentally ill or not it’s important he is identified. I’m glad the police will be paying you a visit.

Edit to add : police really need to be asking for the cctv footage if there’s any to get an accurate image of how he looks and also to find out his route.

You overreacated. He was just a random nutter on a bus who clearly was not actually going to shoot you.

I think you did the right thing. Everyone just assuming he is mentally unwell and that this is fine.
No it's absolutely not.
He's threatened to shoot you in the face. Maybe the next woman who gets on the bus he will shoot in the face. Who knows. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Absolutely nobody, so yes it should be reported.

What else should police do?

Every town, every bus route....there's always a nutter like this

CCTV on x bus at y time. OP can say where he was seated. Not exactly difficult for the police to get his image.

It'd be a bit different if it was on a crowded street or a quiet residential road.