Child given money by "Vicar" at school

[TakeALookAtTheseSwatches]

So my 10 year old daughter (year 5) came home from school on Thursday and told us the Vicar (possibly just a trainee, I'm not entirely sure) who was taking their collective worship at school gave her £5 to "get herself an Easter treat" and that it was "just between me and you" I asked her if she told the teacher and she said no. I feel quite uneasy about this, should I say something to the school?

Big issue which should be resolved asap.

What has your brother got to do with this?

I’m giving an example of the possible ways of people in power may groom children.

It's been five days and the OP hasn't called police.

At my nephew’s primary school on their website non Christian they have an email address, just checked.

She already said she’d prefer the school to deal with it not police.

I'm not going to call the police, people can disagree with my way of dealing with this but I really do not think it's a police matter at this stage.

She does and I really don't think she is lying. But I am not completely disregarding it as a possibility.

It absoutely is a police matter! I think the school will call them anyway due to safeguarding. Ask yourself if he give money, why?

I couldnt live with myself knowing this and NOT acting on it.

It is NOT a police matter.

Report to the school, LADO, police and the parish/church order the vicar belongs to!

Why ? As someone who works in the family court this seems such a big mistake . What is your fear ? At least speak with them

It is 100% a police matter . It’s predatory behaviour and he is in a position if power

The consequences for getting someone else in trouble should not depend on that person's level of respect or authority.

That's one of the roots of the problem - the idea that you should be wary of speaking up about important people, or that some are more important than others. You should no more lie to get a 4 year old in trouble than you should to get an Archbishop in trouble. And you should speak up truthfully even if it means trouble for a cabinet minister or film star.

I don't think its a police matter either, certainly not at this stage before school have had a chance to verify that he did indeed sit beside the Ops child.

The child said her friend witnessed it, but children aren't exactly discreet, a child seeing another get something is likely to ask 'where's mine' 'can I get one'

What other kids saw it?

Interesting that the vast majority of commenters have assumed the vicar is male despite the OP not having mentioned any gender-specific pronouns. Is the vicar a man, OP?

Shame on your school for not making parents aware of how to contact the school about a safeguarding concern in the holidays. Our primary had a worried@ email address specifically for this purpose. It was checked every day including holidays. I used it once to report something disturbing I witnessed involving a pupil. That was several years ago.

What crime has been committed? What powers would the police be utilising. What exactly would the police be doing?

He is in a position of trust (that’s the phrase you’re looking for) and it is is a conduct issue not a crime.

It’s people like you who indirectly allow pedophiles to abuse children for years with refusing to see how big of an issue this is !
Years ago I had a court case where a grandfather abused 3 of his grandchildren and even the father of one of the children , his son , refused to accept it happened because they couldn’t underhand how it had happened right before his eyes and because in his own words his dad was such a good grandparent and a standing member of church .
Things happen so much more than others realise . Giving a potential pedophile 2 extra weeks without a worry is shocking

So why doesn't OP just call police then?

Strange. obviously report it. Did she maybe say she wouldn’t get any Easter eggs at home? Was she missed out at school re an egg ? Did she look noticeably disheveled in hand me down clothes or shoes or similar ? Is she in receipt of free school meals ? Did he think he was being helpful perhaps?

So, again..what crime has been committed, what police powers could be utilised?

There is a regulatory body that deals with position of trust issues, has oversight and will liaise with every relevant agency including police…it is LADO.

Whatever the case may be it needs to be addressed

Nobody is suggesting differently.

At a minimum they can interview him and those close to him , and potentially look into his online history , believe it or not that’s normally enough to dig in deeper