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Original poster

Am very concerned about my neighbour's kids.

66 replies

concernedneighbour · 16/05/2007 12:18

Am a regular but have changed my name. Today one of my neighbours kids came to our door, she was in tears. We let her in and she was covered in handmarks all over her arms, her mum had slapped her so hard there was visable hand marks. She kicked her out without a key and coat and told her to never come home. This isn't the first time this has happened. Social services are involved with the family but don't seem to see what is happening. I really want to report this, but the mum will know its us as we are the only ones that her daughter comes to see in the street.

OP posts:
MaureenMLove · 16/05/2007 12:22

How old is the child? Frankly, if its as bad as it sounds, you will just have to live with what the mother thinks. This is about the safety of a child afterall.

WigWamBam · 16/05/2007 12:22

So your concern about yourself is more important than your concern for the child's welfare?

Call them now.

Grrrr · 16/05/2007 12:23

How old is the girl ?

The mum needs help of some kind.

MaureenMLove · 16/05/2007 12:23

That reads like I'm having a go at you! I'm not, but thats the bottom line isn't it?

Original poster
concernedneighbour · 16/05/2007 12:23

she is 14, but there is younger kids too, and we have seen marks on one of the other kids too

OP posts:
MaureenMLove · 16/05/2007 12:24

Where's the child now?

lulumama · 16/05/2007 12:25

call the police? if the child has been hit and marked, then is that not assault?

Mercy · 16/05/2007 12:25

You must report this to the police or SS. Or maybe her school?

LilyLoo · 16/05/2007 12:25

i know this is going to be so hard but imagine how you will feel if you do nothig and something serious happens. Ring them now they could just come round on a report on diturbance heard at the house, could be any neighbour then.

edam · 16/05/2007 12:25

Feel for you because I'm sure it is difficult with it being easy to work out who reported her, but you have to do it. Poor child. Smacking a child hard enough to leave handmarks is against the law (once, let alone several times).

Think about all those terrible cases where families were known to ss but slipped through the net and children have really suffered - maybe your call will make the difference ie showing ss that this family needs more intervention or the children need to be fostered.

Original poster
concernedneighbour · 16/05/2007 12:25

she has gone home, I guess that her mum let her, as she hasn't come back. Could I ask someone I know who works at SS to report this to her social worker??

OP posts:
EllieG · 16/05/2007 12:26

Call social services/police. Sometimes they (I am one) can't do anything through lack of evidence. If there are visable marks you need to call them NOW so they can be checked.

Original poster
concernedneighbour · 16/05/2007 12:27

she did phone her school from my house, and the sect. asked if she had spoke to SS, I think the school might phone them now

OP posts:
macmama73 · 16/05/2007 12:27

You should call the police or ss. Why should you be bothered what the mum thinks? The children have to get out of the house, as soon as possible.

Original poster
concernedneighbour · 16/05/2007 12:28

it was this morning, I had to go out, so she went home, I looked to see if the mum let her in, and she did.

OP posts:
MaureenMLove · 16/05/2007 12:28

No, don't pass the buck. You know the background, you need to make that call. If you ask a friend of a friend, chances are it won't get done.

chopchopbusybusy · 16/05/2007 12:28

Could you phone the school and ask if they have contacted SS and if not could you ask that they do it.

EllieG · 16/05/2007 12:29

No you have to phone. In a police investigation you would be the person the child first made the complaint to and therefore you need to report it. This child came to you for help, you need to do something.

ahundredtimes · 16/05/2007 12:29

Yes call them. Remember the NSPCC advertising campaign about people turning a deaf ear? Don't let it be you who does!

MaureenMLove · 16/05/2007 12:30

I don't think you should involve third parties at all. YOU saw the marks, YOU saw how upset she was, YOU should make a phone call NOW.

EllieG · 16/05/2007 12:30

Exactly. This is a child we're talking about. She's only admitting to this, there could be loads more going on and thee are other children in the family to consider.

lissielou · 16/05/2007 12:31

you have to do something! child abuse is a serious thing and if you do nothing then you are almost as guilty as the parents. who cares what they think, scum will always try to excuse their behaviour by passing the blame.

chopchopbusybusy · 16/05/2007 12:32

Well, to be fair to the original poster we don't know all the details and she may be frightened of the consequences to her or her family.

HenriettaHippo · 16/05/2007 12:32

Call them. The child should also be in school anyway surely.

EllieG · 16/05/2007 12:33

IT'S A CHILD! Think about the consequences if she doesn't phone! CN can protect her own family this child has no one.

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