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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Should I report to 101, stranger and my baby

106 replies

Bramblecrumble22 · 15/05/2024 09:21

I feel a bit shaken after an interaction. After the school run, I was putting my baby in the car seat and someone tapped my shoulder. I turned with baby in my arms and she said 'baby' and touched him, and but her hand near his armipit. She was stood very close and it felt like when you pass a baby over. I said 'what are you doing.' quite aggressively and she said 'no, no, I like babies' and squeezed his cheek then walked off quickly. I mean she could be lonely and love babies and want to innocently interact with them. She didn't speak much English either. But I just felt really uncomfortable. She wasn't as old as the ladies that often coo over him in the shops, so maybe that why i felt threatened. So aibu she just wanted to see and smile at a baby, very innocent and a cultural misunderstanding, or ainbu report to police in case it builds up a bigger picture and she will go on to kidnap.

OP posts:
ohpoowhatnow · 15/05/2024 10:11

Why in earth would you report this !!! She was being nice which is rare these days. Jesus

Toxicinlawz · 15/05/2024 10:13

FuckTheClubUp · 15/05/2024 09:40

I’m not undermining the OP’s feelings at all. Did you miss the part where I said the exchange wasn’t nice?

Do you think the police have the resources to follow up on a report that’s been made for ‘invading people’s personal space?’ What other information does the OP have in order for the police to find out who this random stranger is? Again, do you really think they have the resources to do that?

You're a bit silly here. Reporting an incident to 101 isn't going to take up resources in the way you're saying. 101 was set up exactly for this. No ones sending out CID to speak to op just because she spoke to 101 for crying out loud.. if this incident has happened many times then like op tried to say (but you was too busy being belittling) that's how sometimes they can build a case or see if someone is about to do something more serious. But I'm not saying that's the case with this incident i fully accept these things are usually nothing however sometimes they are something.

MrsSkylerWhite · 15/05/2024 10:16

Strange responses, OP. I would have been very uncomfortable with that too and told her in no uncertain terms.
What kind of person tries to touch/hold a complete stranger’s baby?
If she were your MIL, you’d get very different replies 😁

FuckTheClubUp · 15/05/2024 10:18

Toxicinlawz · 15/05/2024 10:13

You're a bit silly here. Reporting an incident to 101 isn't going to take up resources in the way you're saying. 101 was set up exactly for this. No ones sending out CID to speak to op just because she spoke to 101 for crying out loud.. if this incident has happened many times then like op tried to say (but you was too busy being belittling) that's how sometimes they can build a case or see if someone is about to do something more serious. But I'm not saying that's the case with this incident i fully accept these things are usually nothing however sometimes they are something.

Edited

Oh golly, I’m way too silly to comprehend what you’ve written. Good day dear

BobbyBiscuits · 15/05/2024 10:18

Tapping someone on the shoulder to make them turn round then fondle their baby is very intrusive. But as you say, she may be from a culture where that's a bit more normal. Or she was having MH issues?
But yeah, not really a police matter as no crime committed.

Toxicinlawz · 15/05/2024 10:23

BobbyBiscuits · 15/05/2024 10:18

Tapping someone on the shoulder to make them turn round then fondle their baby is very intrusive. But as you say, she may be from a culture where that's a bit more normal. Or she was having MH issues?
But yeah, not really a police matter as no crime committed.

Why do you ppl keep saying this over and over that no crime has been committed. You can report suspicious behaviour to the police, you shouldn't discourage ppl from doing that if there is a genuine concern which there is. No ones telling op to ring 999 for crying out loud. It can even be reported online it doesn't mean you are reporting a crime.

Toxicinlawz · 15/05/2024 10:27

MrsSkylerWhite · 15/05/2024 10:16

Strange responses, OP. I would have been very uncomfortable with that too and told her in no uncertain terms.
What kind of person tries to touch/hold a complete stranger’s baby?
If she were your MIL, you’d get very different replies 😁

Omg yes exactly!!! Best reply on this thread I've seen🤣 if it was the mil police would defo get called. 999 style 🤣🤣

CelesteCunningham · 15/05/2024 10:28

MrsSkylerWhite · 15/05/2024 10:16

Strange responses, OP. I would have been very uncomfortable with that too and told her in no uncertain terms.
What kind of person tries to touch/hold a complete stranger’s baby?
If she were your MIL, you’d get very different replies 😁

Of course OP felt uncomfortable, the woman was inappropriae. That doesn't mean it's a police matter though.

BePinkReader · 15/05/2024 11:03

Glad to see you're not going to waste Police time with this OP.

BobbyBiscuits · 15/05/2024 11:11

@Toxicinlawz I didn't say people suggested she should call 999.. 'for crying out loud'.
I merely said reporting it, without it being a crime, wouldn't really get you anywhere. I have had the police poor scorn on me for approaching them on a lot worse.

ShadesofPoachedSmoke · 15/05/2024 11:16

Unless you have her name, address and photo there is fuck all the police can, or would, do about this.

You'll waste an admin's time typing a useless report and absolutely nothing will ever proceed from it.

Some on MN seem to believe the police have endless resources. Most forces can't even attend burglaries or reports of SA now so no, don't bother.

Caerulea · 15/05/2024 11:22

I don't think ppl realise how bloody stuffy we are when it comes to children in this country & I think we're getting worse. That said - I'd have felt uncomfortable with someone being that close & so suddenly but would hope a recognition of cultural difference kicked in & relaxed a bit.

When I met DH he lived with a group of male Chinese students, all early 20's. When I'd visit the house with my 3yo son the housemates were all over him! They'd whisk him off to play & run around, I found it peculiar at first but actually it was just very very sweet. DS managed to pour writing ink all down a wall & rather than kick off they were all 'oh but he's just a child! It was an accident!'

I also had a lot of surprise help in a supermarket in south africa (not a touristy part), baby was kicking off & I was struggling & various random women swooped in help to me calm him.

It's our culture that has an issue with kids, lots of other places are far better.

TommyWooWoo · 15/05/2024 11:53

Toxicinlawz · 15/05/2024 10:23

Why do you ppl keep saying this over and over that no crime has been committed. You can report suspicious behaviour to the police, you shouldn't discourage ppl from doing that if there is a genuine concern which there is. No ones telling op to ring 999 for crying out loud. It can even be reported online it doesn't mean you are reporting a crime.

Which category would it come under when reporting online: https://www.police.uk/pu/contact-us/what-and-how-to-report/what-report/

The only thing I could vaguely see which would apply would be 'suspicious activity', but that directs you to the anti-terrorist hotline so probably not.

Maybe antisocial behaviour? But then it says to report to the police when its affecting your quality of life or you fear for your safety.

Devilshands · 15/05/2024 12:04

I’d have been deeply uncomfortable and been a lot ruder/forceful than you were tbh.

But I wouldn’t report to the police - mostly because they won’t do anything.

WarningOfGails · 15/05/2024 12:07

Came to say something similar Caerulea my dad was actually training as a paediatrician before he moved to the UK and switched speciality as he couldn’t cope with UK attitudes to children.

(And yes lots of South Africans are gorgeous with kids)

angstridden2 · 15/05/2024 12:20

On several holidays when children were young, and more recently with gc abroad hotel waiters have carried toddlers into the kitchen to show to colleagues. Kids usually reappeared shortly clutching chocolate! Try walking down the road in Greece where businessmen as well as ‘old ladies’ will pat them on the head. U.K. attitude seems to be overly stiff and suspicious these days. It seems sad.

StarsHideYourFir3s · 15/05/2024 12:20

I feel like I've stepped into the twilight zone here? Random woman corners OP, gets way too close to her baby and touches the baby without permission, in a way that the OP interprets as trying to take the baby off her, and the vote is leaning towards YABU?? Wtf. I wouldn't call the police OP but I would be shaken. No it's not "normal" despite people apparently living in some bizarre nook of South London where this happens all the time

Blondiebeachbabe · 15/05/2024 12:22

This HAS to be a wind up. 🙄

OneTC · 15/05/2024 12:25

StarsHideYourFir3s · 15/05/2024 12:20

I feel like I've stepped into the twilight zone here? Random woman corners OP, gets way too close to her baby and touches the baby without permission, in a way that the OP interprets as trying to take the baby off her, and the vote is leaning towards YABU?? Wtf. I wouldn't call the police OP but I would be shaken. No it's not "normal" despite people apparently living in some bizarre nook of South London where this happens all the time

I was actually genuinely interested if she was because I can think of a couple of people I see at bus stops that this thread could be about. If you encounter this one young woman and you've got a baby, are heavily pregnant or have a very small dog then you're in for quite an intense experience. She's fully non verbal though. It's interesting seeing how different people react to her, I guess based on the chances of you having encountered her before.

I live quite near a few big hospitals, there is a lot of unusual behaviour in their vicinity

TommyWooWoo · 15/05/2024 12:30

StarsHideYourFir3s · 15/05/2024 12:20

I feel like I've stepped into the twilight zone here? Random woman corners OP, gets way too close to her baby and touches the baby without permission, in a way that the OP interprets as trying to take the baby off her, and the vote is leaning towards YABU?? Wtf. I wouldn't call the police OP but I would be shaken. No it's not "normal" despite people apparently living in some bizarre nook of South London where this happens all the time

Her AIBU is 'should I report to 101', so you in fact actually agree that she is BU because you wouldn't report to the police...

Tospyornottospy · 15/05/2024 12:31

If this was near Richmond report it: a woman has been seen around nurseries trying to take children.

FuckTheClubUp · 15/05/2024 12:32

TommyWooWoo · 15/05/2024 12:30

Her AIBU is 'should I report to 101', so you in fact actually agree that she is BU because you wouldn't report to the police...

Exactly….

MyPerfectHotel · 15/05/2024 12:34

I knew she would be foreign. were there "some romanian looking men" closeby too?

IDontHateRainbows · 15/05/2024 12:39

The police don't even have enough resource to go and arrest prolific shop lifters, leading to massive theft which no one can prevent, do you think they really have time to look into someone touching a baby's armpit?

LauderSyme · 15/05/2024 12:39

The Police won't do anything because
a/. no crime was committed and
b/. you have no idea who she was.

They do not have the resources to record and look for people who have done nothing illegal. Hell, they don't even have the resources to find people who have.