I have recently had to report an acquaintance to social services. When I made the report, the social worker read out the names of the family (I did not disclose this) so I am sure that the family must be known to them.
I have watched the same scenarios play out for years, but I have only just had the courage to report them. The parents are very volatile and have made threats to kill people before.
In short, they use emotional abuse and violence to control the children. The parents throw things at each other, smash and break items, hit one another. They say shocking things to the children like, ‘if you don’t do as I say, I’ll kill myself, and you’ll be responsible’ or ‘I will kill x’ (x being trusted family members or the children’s friends). Suicide and threats to kill are used to force the children into compliance.
Will social services follow this up, is it a given? I am concerned for the children and snapped after witnessing this for years but I am also concerned for my own personal safety in case they realise it was me who made the report.