Police called out to my crying screaming daughter!

[paulanthony1976]

Hi everyone,
So our families bank holiday was ruined by a knock at the door on Saturday night at 10.30pm by the police. Someone had reported a disturbance from our home which the police came to investigate.

I was in bed already, as were the kids, and my wife was getting ready for bed when they knocked us up and interrogated us like criminals. About an hour earlier my 3 year old daughter had been kicking screaming crying tantrum as she didn't want to go to bed, but she soon wore herself out and was fast asleep when the cops came.

They took my kids names and birthdays and school details etc, as well as my wives and mine personal and work details. They had a good look around the house, checked on the kids sleeping in their rooms, asked us lots of questions and then left. Upon leaving the police told us they were satisfied that it was a false alarm, that the matter was closed, and that we had nothing to be worried about.

The next day on Bank Holiday Sunday at 9am, the police returned to our cul-de-sac, knocked on all our friends/neighbours doors and asked lots of questions about our family and if they had heard noise. Needless to say when the police left all our friendly neighbours came back over to us to tell us about their interviews with the police and to get the gossip from us and to express their support to us, and to condemn the "snake in the grass" living among us, and the for wasting the police time.

Although we had done nothing wrong, we now feel like criminals, and losing sleep worrying. Not to mention being gossiped about by our neighbours, even though all our kids play together in the street.

We are really angry at being falsely accused of something, a 3 year old cannot legally create a disturbance, can they? also angry at being told it was a closed matter, when then the next day they came back to interrogate our friends and neighbours. Can I complain for harassment and intimidation, or for defamation and libel?

I am now walking on broken glass every time my kids throw a tantrum and fearful of another public complaint or visit by the police and/or social services.

Any thoughts or suggestions are welcomed please.

if you got married in 1976 that must make you what in your 50s - an old man then going by your own standards

Oh he's one of those sixtysomething dads of small children determined to tell everyone how young and vibrant he is.

Marking place - weird but entertaining

marking place

Oh god, Fideline. I think you're right.

Ironed stonewashed jeans and Simply Red belting out of the windows.

Or when he's feeling really edgy, a bit of Coldplay.

How very dare you Fideline

Only Mozart and Chopin in his house.

Maybe some Vamps cause he's so young and that!

I could SING some coldplay to lighten the mood.

I call ponytail.

And mocassins

Probably with white socks

OP is very confused. I think he's the SAHD with the ponytail and the old single lady next door! He's called Paula at the weekends and Tony in the week.

Oh lord.

Listen nobody is saying children can't have tantrums. But perhaps it's a pretty fucking good thing that if the police get a call about a child screaming they go and fucking make sure that kid isn't having seven shades of shit beaten out of them. And just because the parents act all naice when the coppers are there, maybe just maybe it might be a good idea to check with the neighbours that things are in fact all hunky dory.

Grrr.

It's ok More I don't think there were any police.

I believe vest just cracked the case

Police responsibly have to follow up reports esp where children are involved
I'd advise you file this as bad experience and don't seek out who reported

Yeah it would seem so. But I do love a good righteous rant.

But perhaps it's a pretty fucking good thing that if the police get a call about a child screaming they go and fucking make sure that kid isn't having seven shades of shit beaten out of them.

^^ This.

Our neighbours threatened to call social services when DD was having a tantrum. Aged 10. But I was pleased that someone was looking out for her iyswim. Even though she was just having a paddy because the laptop wouldn't switch on.

If I hear a screaming child that I cannot see, do I have a duty to call the police or only if it occurs at times outside Gina Ford's prescribed bedtime hours?

if you got married in 1976 that must make you what in your 50s - an old man then going by your own standards
OP probably thinks that being "Old" is clearly not happening to him, ever. He's a twenty something Peter Pan, not like the interfering (ie concerned) old biddy next door.

I think you are getitng a hard time here OP. I am sure that the vast majority on here would not be happy to be on the receiving end of what happened to you, but they probably imagine that as naice families it would never happen to them! I have an autistic child (am actually v naice!) and one of my neighbours made a report to SS because our ds was noisily banging on the fence between our houses and the neighbour had heard he banged a toy on an upstairs window, cracking the glass. He actually implied to the social worker that my ds had been locked in the shed! I was very very upset and years later it still stands out as a terrible time in my life. I felt unfairly judged. My neighbour could have come over, called over the fence to us that ds was drumming on fence or done a whole number of other things, but no he decided to cause us stress and upset. I feel for you. Try and put it behind you though. I confronted my neighbour and invited him round to see for himself where my son had been banging. Needless to say he didnt want to as he was embarrassed.

No walter, now its Bingo!

It's not pleasant to have the police in your house, or to be the subject of discussion in your neighbourhood, so I see why you're upset. However, I can tell you I was a tantrum queen when I was little. Neighbours called the NSPCC to report my screaming. By the time they turned up, I was playing happily in my room.

Different neighbours called the police when my cousin was little-they told the officers they thought a woman was being murdered next door. My cousin-who was 6 years old, and the youngest-had been told to go to bed before everyone else. The officers were distinctly bemused by my tiny cuz cowering under her Disney princess quilt. We are EPIC screamers in my family!

It's obviously been horrid for you, but the police have to do their job. It's not the first time they have been called out to a tantruming child, and it won't be the last. One day-believe it or not- you will all look back and laugh about the day dd screamed SO MUCH the police arrived.

Your children will probably be somewhat chastened by the experience, so will keep a lid on it (for a bit)! The neighbours will find other things to natter about. Don't lose sleep!

If your kid is loud enough to get the cops on your door, wouldnt you be totally fucking morto rather tnan irritated and whiny ?

I'm very sorry to hear the stories on this thread from posters who had awful childhood experiences. Really wish someone had been there for you all