Would you report a kid in the boot?

[Bigoldsnitch]

Just curious! My neighbour is reliably putting her kids in the car and one (8 ish) laying just in the boot under some coats.

I was discussing this with friends about how common it used to be. I haven't yet reported it, a friend told me I should. Weirdly I'd probably be more likely to do it if it was a baby without a car seat.

Its a weird line I know. What would you do? Would you be reporting it to police or social?

No I wouldn't report it. People were still doing that even when I was growing up.

Uhuh. But there is a reason it is now illegal to do so.

We used to do it all the time back in the 80s. We stopped after my auntie had an accident and my 12 year old cousin was thrown out of the boot.

Yes I’d report it - there’s lots of things that we ‘used to do’ that aren’t done anymore, for good reason. All children should be travelling safely in cars these days.

Yes. What happens if they’re crashed into from behind? Everyone unconscious and nobody able to tell emergency services there’s someone in the boot? Sounds extreme but you should be thinking in extremes when it comes to child safety.

A parent repeatedly puts their child at risk despite being very aware of the guidelines.
Also, this could be another puzzle piece to a kuch bigger picture. If she's happily doing this regularly and so obviously, there could be other concerns raised about her parenting.

Yes. If it was a neighbour doing it regularly.

I notice cars that have unstrapped kids every so often but don't have a chance to get their details.

I would definitely report this, not sure to who, probably social services?

It's illegal because cars are designed to crumple at the front and back to preserve the main body of the car if it's in an accident - great for those in the car, almost certainly fatal if you're riding in the boot and someone goes into the back of you.

It's stupid to put a child in danger like this even as a one of but especially regularly and knowing it's against the law and unsafe.

If you saw it as a one off no, if they’re doing it regularly yes I would report.
I know things were more lax in the 80s/90s and I do remember sitting on an adult’s lap in the back seat as a child in the 80s but even my parents/grandparents would have drawn the line at putting one of us in the boot regularly!
Also just because people did it 30 years ago doesn’t mean it was ok, and there’s a reason it’s illegal now.
They need to buy a bigger car to fit their kids in safely, I just don’t have much sympathy for them.

Yes. I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't report it. Very dangerous in the event of an accident.

Definitely. If a car goes into the back of this car, the child will be crushed. What an irresponsible moronic thing for a parent to do.

I agree with the majority of posters here - I'd report. Mostly, if I'm honest, because if something happened I'd feel unbearably guilty and wish I had said something earlier. I had a car accident where I was rear-ended and the back and front were just crushed but the cabin remained pristine. A kid wouldn't stand a chance.

I am very much a live and let live type, but I would report this one, for the reasons others have stated.

I’d probably report by sending an email to social services, no drama tbh. I also wouldn’t expect much to happen.

Yes definitely report. Cars are built differently now and are designed as others have said to crumple in front and back so this is an extremely unsafe place for anyone to be, especially if she's doing it regularly. It raises a lot of questions about her parenting choices. I get that it's hard if you have more kids than seats but she needs to then look for a bigger second hand car to fit them all in or organise herself differently.

Yes I'd report it. If this woman had an accident and that child were injured or died, could you live with yourself knowing you'd seen it happen and said nothing? The child doesn't understand the consequences but the adult should know better.

Yeah I’m pretty hands off generally but if their car was rear ended that kid would almost certainly be dead. I’d report it.

Report to police and social. We used to put our dog in the boot just chilling on his bed, as that's what everyone did (and many still do) with dogs, and never thought anything of it. Then a drink driver rear ended us at over 60mph on a country road and our dog was crushed to death. Worst fucking day of my life and I still haven't forgiven myself.

If they are doing it regularly then yes I would report it - however I am unsure of whether this would be a police or social services matter but most likely both.

To put it another way, if you do nothing about it and they are in an accident and that child is injured (or worse) as a result of their positioning in the boot - could you live with that? An 8 year old could not possibly fathom the dangers of what they are doing - will just trust their mum.

If you are reporting, I would urge you to get some evidence of it too, a photo or video.

I have in the past reported drug dealing in my area - by a family who lived just 3 doors away - who made the silly mistake of doing it at the end of my driveway obviously a few times. He couldn’t have cared less that this was in front of children. He also quite brazenly once walked down the street with a large block of drugs he had collected from another neighbour. Police requested me to gather evidence (photos, registration plates, times etc) and were in contact regularly. Weeks later, the house (and the aforementioned other neighbours house) were raided and they found thousands of pounds worth of drugs. The guy who lived a few doors down served time for it - literally years. Deserved it. Our street had been a complete hotbed of various drug users coming up and down the street at all times. I was soooo glad to move out of that house!

On a further note - I had a 7 seater car up until fairly recently with the boot seats that popped up. Despite being forward facing and I’m fairly sure they had been crash tested, I never ever felt safe having either of my children in those seats. To put a child loose in a boot is just utter madness.

If she's doing it regularly to the same child, I'd wonder about a pattern of treating this child differently from the others and if this happens within the house too.

The front and rear of a car are likely to bear the brunt of a front-end or rear end collision - the child would be more likely to suffer a serious injury, or worse, in the boot.

Call the NSPCC to see if they have advice for you.

I'd report to the child's school safeguarding lead regardless.

I think it’s pointless reporting to the police.

No

Yes. I would report it. So dangerous- especially if the car was hit from behind. Emergency services may not think to.look under the coats.

I’d report it, unless there’s a drip feed that the kid is 20 or something. I’m not sure why you’d consider a baby more valuable than a child

I can’t believe any parent would do this! Such a risky thing to do with your own child’s life. Makes me so angry - that poor kid. I’d report it in a heartbeat if I thought anyone would do anything about it.