Help!! I think my neighbours children are in danger

[Jjhx]

I need some advice and wasn’t sure where else to ask! A neighbour close to me has two young twin girls maybe aged 6 or 7, most nights they scream at the top of their voices, like a really terrifying scream, you know when a scream isn’t normal. I’ve anonymously reported it to the police before and not much happened. It has happening right now at 3.40am, it is so loud it wakes me up and I can hear it with my windows closed!! What more can I do, please help!!!

I mean go round bang on the door

Ring the police and I would be round banging lol

I am not sure how to reply properly I’ve not used this before! I called the police once before but they turned up and left shortly after. Unfortunately the neighbour isn’t the type of person I would want to confront alone

Well they might be but also they might be distressed for another reason like nightmares or sleep terrors. Not sure I would jump to abuse.

I would let the neighbour know tomorrow that you are being woken by this and see what they say. They quite possibly are at their wits end with it too and might need support such as from the GP/school nurse/ Early Help or something

Ring the police now whilst it’s happening and take a video for proof if you’d rather not go round alone.

You could anonymously report to social care or to the NSPCC especially if there are other reasons to be concerned like how they appear or not going to school or whatever.

Social services and police
Do not bang on their door as you'd likely put yourself in the firing line.

Yes totally agree it could be night terrors however it does also happen in the day.
Shouldn’t always assume the worst however I would rather be cautious that not.

Sadly she is not the type of person you could approach.

Thank you! I did send video proof the previous time and have some from now so I will do that again.

Thank you! I wasn’t aware you could go anonymously to NSPCC, I will try that also.
They are pretty unkept and I can’t say I have noticed them going to school much.

You did the right thing by calling the police. If you’re worried the children are at risk, you should keep reporting it whenever it happens, even if it feels repetitive. You could also contact your local child protection/social services team—they usually take these situations seriously. Don’t put yourself in danger by confronting the neighbour directly.

If it's nothing all good and well if not you've done your bit.
I've had to do this in the past.

Thank you! Yes definitely do not want to go to the door

Thank you! I would much rather be wrong than risk it especially with children as you said

I once reported my neighbour to police for DV and I felt a fool when police arrived and left very quickly again but I know that I did the right thing based on what I heard so my conscience is clear. I could not have taken the guilt if something happened and I didn’t make the call. I would do it again. You are doing the right thing to report this.

Something did happen when you called - the police checked.

So repeat.

Report to nspcc or ss

Do you know what school they go to

You can refer to your local MASH team. The details will be on your local council website under something like Children's Services, Keeping Children Safe. (But for immediate danger phone 999)

Do abused children scream? From recent news reports they’re more likely to terrified into shame and silence.

By all means report but there may be other reasons for the screaming which are nothing to do with abuse.

“Most nights”

how long have you been hearing this Op?

I would call Social Services but if it is the same time at 3am it could be nightmares coupled with behavioural issues.
Just record it and sendnit to them and leave well alone. Unless you observe or hear actual abuse and see anything concerning I would try to leave well alone.

nspcc
dont leave well alone
please raise it

One for my children used scream and cry like they were being murdered... When in fact it was something minor, such as cancelling their friends coming over because they're really bad.
I've never, ever hit my kids, but I'm certain the neighbours must have thought I beat them.
But still, if I heard the same I would definitely call the police and social services. It's always better to report and be wrong, then not report and the kids being hurt.

OP you can ring 999 again when it happens if you really think something's wrong

But when I had awful neighbours who harassed us (not saying you are) they rung 999 on us a lot when my child screamed. Police always came out but then they went because there no concerns. (I mean the calls were malicious of course).
But just another perspective

This. I was raised in a violent and abusive household, drinking, drugs, physical and verbal abuse daily. I lived with a prostitute at one point. I would never scream. Even now, my body reverts to being young in dangerous situations and I go mute.

My DS has signs of being ND and he screams all the time, like a murderous banshee scream. During the day he does it during meltdowns and during the night he has what I think are night terrors? His eyes are still closed but be is screaming crying and hits out at me.
Hopefully the twins are okay. You've done all you can x