Help

[Erajun]

Hi.I’ve gone to store and left my kids in car few minutes trying to get a trolley.I know now this is very bad and wrong and i can’t describe how mad and angry at myself i am .In the short while someone heard the kids and notified nearby police.The police have said they have to write it up and social services would probably call me.Im
am scared shirtless please as i do not want to loose my kids.Anybody has an idea what could happen please.

Does anyone have a similar experience and could please help?

You certainly won't lose your children for this. If they call it will just be for a chat. I have left the kids in the car before while I have hunted for a trolley as I couldn't manage carrying a 4 month old and a 6 month old while I found a store assistant to help me find one with twin baby seats. How old are your children? Sometimes it is safer for them to be secure in the car rather than traipsing across a car park.

If you really were only away for a few minutes to get a trolley, they will talk to you then close the case. Is there more to it?

Yeah, sure 🙄

4 and 2,i was searching for the twin trolley and had to go all the way to the other end.Didn’t know it would take that long to find one.Safety was actually why i left them in the first instance.

No there isn’t more to it..that was all that happened,the car wasn’t even locked as they opened the door before i got there but i’ve never had this sort of experience before.I don’t know what to expect,i asked the police officer if i would get i. trouble she said she can’t be sure they would probably just call me and say it was a stupid thing to do.My kinds weren’t hurt or anything g.

How hot was it? If it’s a 30 degree day it’s not going to look great!

I assume they notified the police due to how hot it is (rightly so) I do think you should be able to navigate two children of those ages to get a trolley (unless there's more info you've left out) maybe this will help you re think how you will manage future trips, or leaving the children with someone at home instead?

How long did you leave them for all this to happen. Even gojng to the far end of the supermarket car park would take 5 minutes. We're your children distressed?

It was definitely stupid of me to say the least,and i’m not trying to make any excuses.It would definitely never happen again i just wanted some help with regards to what might happen this one occurrence.

Please is there anyone with social
service experience that could help?

It's more likely to be an issue that you left it unlocked rather than you left them in the car. Why do you need a twin trolley with a 4yr old, surely they could have walked?

I imagine SS will visit and have a chat with you, and based on whether or not they have any concerns following that chat, they'll either close the case or get you some additional support. Unless this incident is the tip of a hugely concerning iceberg, there is no way you'll lose your kids. It is so expensive and time consuming to remove kids from their parents, SS don't do it unless they're damn sure the kids are in real danger.

I think the most important thing is that you're honest. If you say you'd left them a 'couple' of minutes when in fact others that were there say it's longer wouldn't look great. Just thinking what would happen if you see kids in a car, you'd first wait to see if someone comes back, then you'd possibly start looking further in the carpark to see anyone who could be the parent and then you'd ask the shop to announce, call the police etc. Even if police were walking past it's a lot to happen in less than 5 minutes.

A little bit of update ,thanks to everyone for the help.i was so worried sick today when i could no longer bear it i called as myself and said i had been told to expect a call,the lady asked for my details and told me nothing had come through,she couldn’t find anything ,she then said she would call me back tomorrow just to confirm again after having a look in the morning and asked me not to worry that they probably decided not to log a complaint anymore as they weren’t bothered/it wasn’t serious.
Now i am worried sick again that i have probably just involved as myself as the officer might now have a change of heart.What does everyone think please

SS

I think that calling will probably count in your favour, it shows willingness to engage and that you are aware of the situation, not just brushing it under the rug.

Thank you.I’ll know for sure tomorrow,thanks again,i do feel better.

Thanks everyone.I got a call back and the lady said the officers weren’t concerned and we’re not going to make a case of it as it didn’t mean any safeguarding concerns.So SS would be taking no concerns,apparently i was worried for nothing,i think the officer just wanted to scare me.Thanks to everyone for their reply and help.