One off child care for 7 week old?

[Rosieposie9]

I'm currently on maternity leave with my 7 week old baby. My work are trying to tell me I have to give evidence at court (police) and despite me telling them it's not possible at the moment they won't take no for an answer and have told me I will just have to sort childcare. Aside from the fact my baby is breastfed and feeds every hour during the day I don't even know how I would go about finding child care for a 7 week old baby on a one off basis? Do nurseries/child minders even take babies this young? I'm not going to need it for more than a day at the most so I can't see anywhere/anyone being willing to do this, I also don't want to leave my baby with someone I don't know. I've told them again for a second time that it's not possible and they've just said it's my problem to sort child careAny suggestions? My family all work so that's not an option either. Is it as easy as they seem to think it is to just snap up some child care for a young baby for a single day?

You either have to:

Say no to appearing in person

Go with someone who can look after baby nearby

Go and leave baby with someone and express

Can’t think of any other options unless someone spots something I’ve missed?

I don't know how to quote people on here which is why I haven't acknowledged all the individual suggestions it's not that I've not taken them on board or considered them. Some of the suggestions aren't suitable though, my partner can't just take time off work like that and neither can my family/friends etc.
Having the baby in the court is also not suitable for reasons I've stated above. My baby is breastfed and doesn't take a bottle, that leaves me with very few options.

I've already discussed this with witness care and it's them that have passed on the fact CPS don't give a shit basically and that I have to sort childcare.

And in response to the query about court while I was pregnant- it was magistrates court so in the court room there is literally a magistrate, some barristers and a court clerk who happened to be a lady probably at least 60, and then a rather unpleasant defendant. There's a security guard in the main foyer area but I wouldn't fancy my chances whilst waiting for them to be any help. It's for this exact reason I don't want to take my baby to court.

Have you asked about providing evidence by video link? I had to go to a barristers chambers but I guess it sets up the option to hire a sitter for the time you'll be providing evidence (they have me a set time more or less) or the possibility of doing it near a relatives place of work so they can take an extended lunch?

What do witness care say about the logistics of organising childcare for a 7 week old breastfed baby? Does it always come back to you to organise childcare even if none is suitable/available?

Are you a member of a professional body/union? Would they be able to advise?

Would contacting your MP be any help?

Witness care literally did not care

The trouble with giving evidence as a police officer is they don't even give you times, and they make you attend even when they know full well they're likely to not even need you on the day. I've also had several occasions where I've sat in court all day and been told at the end of the day I'm not needed.

I hadn't thought about video evidence though so will suggest that. The last time I have evidence via video they couldn't hear a word I was saying so it could be a blessing in disguise

Is it possible to give a written witness statement instead?

Oh they've got my statement already! This case is for an incident which happened over a year ago whilst I was still an operational officer, I've got pregnant and given birth since it happened! I've already made it quite clear to them I can't provide any further evidence than what is already in my statement and they still say I have to go.

I will contact our federation and see what they say but I'm pretty sure it's in the policy that you have to attend court on maternity leave, clearly regardless of how much it's going to mess my baby around.

This has happened to a police officer relative of mine, exactly the same scenario. I don’t think people understand that when you’re a police officer amd you’re cited for court, there really is no getting out of it.
My relative managed to get a colleague/friend who was on a rest day to literally hold the baby while she gave her evidence. Are you sure you don’t have a colleague who would help out? I can’t think of any of my colleagues who wouldn’t help out in this situation

Erm, NO. They cannot force you to do this, you are on maternity LEAVE!

I had this when I had my first son, I was a police officer then. I told them where to stick it!

Are you a PC? If so, contact the federation.
Anyone else contact your union.

If it's some pushy so and so from the CJU, tell them you will not be attending!

If there is a safety concern with your baby being present at the court, could you discuss that with the court contacts and your work place and make it clear that they are responsible for the safety of your baby? Would they care about that at all?

If there's no way of having alternative arrangements then you will have to find a nanny/babysitter, express during the day, and hope that your baby takes a bottle and that you're not there for an excessive amount of time.

It's totally shit that the court can't arrange a safe space for you to be there with your baby until you're called.

That's shit. I was a defence lawyer and it was not unheard of for cases to be adjourned because a cop was on mat leave or, if their evidence was straightforward and akin to their neighbour, for it to be agreed.

Having read the messages, you're a PC. this is awful. Please contact your local fed rep.

You absolutely should not be pressured into attending court on your maternity leave. Who is pushing you to attend? It's disgusting enough that they made you do it whilst 8 months pregnant.

I promise you, you won't have to do it.

Although well meaning, the suggestion for taking a babysitter and the baby with you are not good ones. Courts are not nice places. Your baby does not belong there and neither do you.

I can't think of any police regulations that would require an officer to attend court from
Maternity leave. Yes annual gets cancelled, but not this. Speak to PolFed ASAP!

Contact doula UK. You need a Post natal doula to support you and the baby at court. They do provide doulas to people free of charge who are in need. I'm fairly sure they would send someone for you for one day. Tell the court the baby is coming and you need a room to feed in. Have the doula carry the baby into that side room so the defendant doesn't link you with the baby. Then pop in and out as needed. It will be ok.

Ah it's an appeal then? So not a chance of your evidence being agreed.

Yeah, you're going to need someone to help out. Can you give evidence from the video link room? Ask to write a statement as to why that's needed now, like you would for a vulnerable witness.

I still don't understand how, if this is part of your job role, they can insist you go when you're on maternity leave. Just say no.

Just say no

Lots of people saying they don't get it.

Welcome to the world of the police.

Yeah they won't take no for an answer unfortunately. They've been hassling me about it since the week I gave birth and I ignored them because I was in hospital!

PolFed state

"Court Attendance during Maternity Leave
If a police officer is required to attend court whilst on maternity leave, she should attend unless her doctor certifies she is unfit to do so.

Attendance at court as a police witness is classed as duty and an officer must ensure she is booked on duty and a risk assessment has been completed.

Officers on unpaid maternity leave will be regarded as being on duty and will be paid for and receive an appropriate allowance for the days attended at court, their maternity period will not be extended."

So ensure you cause plenty of grief over the risk assessment being written for your safety and that of your baby. Ensure another officer is present with full PPE to protect you both in light of what you've said.

This is disgusting 😡😡😡😡😡😡 SO glad I left the police

I believe that the court can mandate your attendance if you are fit to give evidence but they have to make provisions for you as a breastfeeding mum. Your employer could provide a nanny (or perhaps a willing colleague) to watch your baby while you give evidence, if this is a long process (more than an hour) they will give you breaks to feed, you aren't the first to have to do this, they will have measured in place (alas courts can't wait a year for you to return)