WIBU To call the police?

[Helpless0190]

I know myself i wasn't BU. But everyone around me seems to think I was and now I have put myself at risk.

House on the street. Couple, 5 kids. Always volatile, enough shouting and screaming that I can hear their voices carry across the road into my house.

Over the past few years there have been incidents where I have called the police. The male is arrested, she doesn't support it, not enough evidence, nfa. I have also raised safeguarding concerns more than once.

A few days ago there was another incident (on the doorstep, its always on the doorstep) and it was severe enough for me to call the police again. They attended, arrested the male, and for the first time officers went into the property.

What they found was severe enough to remove the children. I do not know all of the details but the officer told me some and it is grim.

Because of this I'm now public enemy number one to the mother, and I'm assuming her partner when he reappears from wherever he is bailed to. She has been screaming over to my house, throwing things around the garden, generally losing it.

And now my own family think I did the wrong thing and I have put myself and DD in danger. But I dont see how I was supposed to sit back and let it happen - especially with what the police uncovered.

Hold your head up high, she shouts the loudest and her partner is clearly a shout big man but report everything to the police and if they actually confront you state that you are reporting every interaction which won't help their case. If the police took the kids directly then that's serious, they don't do that for anything but severe neglect. They sound like bullies at beat, at worse abusers, you did the right thing.

You could just say the police saw you had a ring doorbell and asked for the footage.

You did the right thing.

Thank you.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
I have had to do many safeguarding referrals in my role and some were complex situations but children are vulnerable and as previous comments have put, you may have saved those children from abuse and neglect.
I think with the recent tragedy of baby Preston, it will have caused a lot of regret from people that were concerned but did not speak up and for the people involved who did speak up but were not listened to by health professionals.
You 100% did the right thing OP and that took courage. Deny all knowledge of it if the NDN approaches you.

Well done for reporting. Children are not removed easily so there must have been very serious concerns when the police entered the home. Those poor children.

Gross username

This is so weird

you reported anonymously
the woman then signposted the police officer to you for you to give a statement

the police officer took a punt that it was you despite fact you say loads of others have reported over the years?

why?

No one likes child abusers, trolls or slappers either.

I'm sure that had you not reported them, and later down the line something really bad happened, a death perhaps , the whole world would be bleating that "someone should have done something" therefore you did the right thing. Inform the police every time you receive a threat or the mother has a go at you. It must be really upsetting for you going through this, but YOU DID THE RIGHT THING!

Gross

Until there's another child murdered at the hands of their parents in the news and everyone starts wailing " But someone must have suspected something! Why didn't they do anything?"

ETA crossed with @agentmarmalade

You absolutely did the right thing.

Every time the police show up, nothing happens.

The OP has said the police removed the children on this occasion so I have no idea what you mean.

If police removed the children it must have been really bad.
you did the right thing.

Didn't realise my neighbour was on MN

Ok, my bad

I imagine children rescued from abusive childhoods would be pretty grateful to whoever did that but, hey, don't let that stop you sounding like some kind of wannabe Eastender

Act stupid. Say something back like "what are you talking about? What's gone on? Is this why the police came round and asked if I had any doorbell recordings on Tuesday?"

She suspects but she doesn't know anything. If she keeps harassing you ring the police non emergency line and report her. It all adds to the case they'll be working through to give the kids the best chance to thrive.

Op Ask the Police for a Protection alarm or at least ask them for an assessment. The alarm could be linked to a receiving station for an immediate response.
As this is so sensitive the Officer taking the statement should have asked you to attend the Police Station and not make it obvious to anyone.

The officer who told her that "the woman across the road" would give a statement, threw you under the bus. That was an appalling breach on his part.

I'd be reporting that error and using it to get support from the police force.

I wouldn’t get your hopes up. I think it’s more likely the police have informed SS and the HA and she’s roped everyone in to help her get the place looking presentable before anyone turns up to inspect the place.

You absolutely did the right thing. She might not think so now. In fact, she might not ever think so. But if the kids have been removed, things must have got really bloody bad in there.

Make sure your doorbell camera is always ready to go. If she’s complaining about it, then it might also be worth getting one of those little cameras that sit on your window sill, just so you’re prepared in case anything happens. And make it very clear that you’ll call the police and the HA and SS each and every time if any anti social behaviour comes your way. You need to show that you won’t be intimidated in your own home.

I think it was the woman who told the officer that the OP would give the statement

"Grass". How old are you? What a pathetic, childish statement used only by the dregs of society. Anyway, I'd rather people be a grass and help to save abused, neglected children and help victims of crime.²