Neighbours

[Notpop]

We’ve got newish neighbours. Young family with a couple of youngish kids (around 5 and 8). Obviously with the nice weather they and we are outside in the garden a lot and we keep hearing the father disciplining kids with time out and a smack for good measure!! He goes from 0 to 60 in seconds so is obvious on a short fuse and frequency uses the F word at them. We’ve overheard one of the kids crying out ‘don’t hit me’ a couple of times. Tbh it’s heartbreaking 😔 I know kids can be a handful but I don’t think they are up to anything naughty or dangerous, just kids playing out and siblings winding each other up. Should we let parents know we can hear them and are worried or escalate it?

I think you’ve got to put in a call to the police or social services or both (not sure how it works where you are). If that’s what he’s like outside, behind closed doors could be so much worse for the children. I couldn’t let it go if it was me, and I definitely wouldn’t go to the parents at all

You should report it to social services.

The kids need someone looking out for them.

England call social services

Scotland call the police

Social services. There’s usually a family front door that you can report through for your local area

Thanks for your replies. I thought social services too. They moved in end of last year so this is first summer we can hear them in the garden. You’re right too that it could be so much worse indoors 😔

You can report anonymously. I've been in a situation where I had to do this, and it was a difficult choice, but I don't regret it.