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Original poster

Police came to our house to do a welfare check on the children - advice sought

87 replies

BusyFrizzyLizzie · 12/12/2025 11:40

This morning two police appeared at our front door at 8:00 saying they had had an anonymous report that we had been locking our children out in the garden and leaving them to scream for hours.

To be clear, this is entirely untrue. Never happened. I don't even remember when the children were last in the garden, given the recent cold and wet.

They asked if they could come in and take a look around. I was very shocked, and had nothing to hide, so readily agreed. The kids were in their uniforms having breakfast. Both very small (KS1).

The police looked about for 30 seconds and then said that they'd seen enough and were happy to leave. I asked if I should expect any further follow up from social services and they said no. They suggested it could have been a malicious report (I'm not sure that makes me feel better at all!). I volunteered mine and my children's ages and names, as it seems that it's for the best that they do any investigations they wish and find nothing untoward.

They were very apologetic as they left, and I fully understand their position. I would rather that spurious or malicious reports be investigated than children who are being abused go unidentified. However, I'm left pretty shaken by events.

Can anyone tell me if there are likely to be next steps, and if so what those might be? And is there anything pre-emptive I should be doing? Of course my eldest was thrilled that the police visited and was very excited about telling teachers and friends, so it will be all over the class by this evening 🙈... should I contact the school so that they're aware?

All very odd and I hope it's a one-off, but also don't want to sleepwalk into a bigger problems.

Thanks!

OP posts:
01Name · 12/12/2025 12:26

FancyCatSlave · 12/12/2025 12:05

I know I’ll get accused of ageism by saying this but do you have anyone nearby that could have any form of dementia type illness that might have called them? I say this because a relative of mine had lewy body dementia which came with very convincing hallucinations and he called the police a few times about people screaming in his garden.

I was just about to say this. A good friend has an elderly mother-in-law with rampant dementia who has called the Police and caused so much trouble for her (innocent) neighbours that she was recently served with some form of ASBO by the local council and received a Police caution (though what good they expect that to do, I've no idea).

The lady really needs to be in a secure care home, but my friend is a widow and there's nothing she can do about the situation. The lady's closer family are so terrified of her (she was abusive long before the dementia came along) that they won't act to get her supported in a more suitable environment. It's terrible to behold and my heart breaks for her neighbours.

Hope all will be well for you OP.

Shedeboodinia · 12/12/2025 12:34

I would definitely tell the school as they might start to make their own interpretations.
I would also be putting up a security camera in case there is someone malicious and batshit lurking about.
I would also krep an eye out for neighbours with young DC that might be locking them out in the garden in case it was a wrong address and some poor kids are in trouble.

Shedeboodinia · 12/12/2025 12:35

01Name · 12/12/2025 12:26

I was just about to say this. A good friend has an elderly mother-in-law with rampant dementia who has called the Police and caused so much trouble for her (innocent) neighbours that she was recently served with some form of ASBO by the local council and received a Police caution (though what good they expect that to do, I've no idea).

The lady really needs to be in a secure care home, but my friend is a widow and there's nothing she can do about the situation. The lady's closer family are so terrified of her (she was abusive long before the dementia came along) that they won't act to get her supported in a more suitable environment. It's terrible to behold and my heart breaks for her neighbours.

Hope all will be well for you OP.

Show quote history

Actually, thinking about it DHs mum, who had dementia, thought children were running about upstairs in her house and called the police on more than one occassion.

FairKoala · 12/12/2025 12:36

BusyFrizzyLizzie · 12/12/2025 12:19

Thanks. I'll bear it in mind if we hear any more from it. At this stage, as you've all now assured me that there aren't other protective steps I need to take, I'm going to try and forget all about it.

Sorry to hear that it's happened to quite a few of us!

Show quote history

I would check that the police were the police because this all sounds mightily odd to me.
Was there a female officer or was it 2 men

It night only be a terrace house but you never know what they have in mind

Police cars and uniforms can be got. The cars are sold quite regularly at auction

TheTaupeScroller · 12/12/2025 12:36

I would be bemused, but grateful that the police is not stretched enough they can make welfare checks.

You were right to contact the school, there's nothing to hide or be ashamed, and it's great to show the kids that the police are friends, and not the enemy. It's a useful life skill.

Whereismyfleeceblanket · 12/12/2025 12:38

Does your house back onto any others? Sound carries so a genuine caller could have given the wrong address.

01Name · 12/12/2025 12:41

Shedeboodinia · 12/12/2025 12:35

Actually, thinking about it DHs mum, who had dementia, thought children were running about upstairs in her house and called the police on more than one occassion.

Show quote history

Yes, it's a fairly common theme for dementia sufferers, I believe. It's a terribly cruel disease. And there's nothing you can do to reassure or reason with them, or persuade them to stop because, of course, to them the delusions/hallucinations are 100% real. Really sad. x

TheCurious0range · 12/12/2025 12:53

My NDN has dementia she called me last week to ask if I was ok at there was an almighty row coming from my house, DH was at work, ds was at school and I was 50 miles away on a train. I checked the cameras and no one in the vicinity of our house. She also recently told paramedics her son beat her black and blue the day before, split her lip and blacked her eye, we saw him when he visited the day before heard nothing and there wasn't a mark on her. She has made a number of similar allegations against all kinds of people even nurses when they've not been alone with her

IdaGlossop · 12/12/2025 12:55

flutisy · 12/12/2025 11:51

I would worry that it wasn't a malicious report, but that the police somehow ended up checking the wrong address?

Not helpful!

GlitzAndGigglesx · 12/12/2025 12:56

Happened to me about 7 years ago. I was washing my kids hairs which they hated at younger ages so were screaming. 10 minutes later the police came saying they'd had a report of screaming. I told them what had gone on and off they went after seeing us all. Nothing more came of it

IdaGlossop · 12/12/2025 12:57

BreakingBroken · 12/12/2025 11:53

Were the police really the police? Potential robbers casing your home?
Was it the right home?

This didn't need saying. OP doesn't need new things to worry about.

Janie1962 · 12/12/2025 12:58

I once had the Police knock on my door at 2am to say my son had been driving a vehicle that evening which was involved in a serious accident, and he was in hospital. Son was actually tucked up in bed.....and three years old at the time 😂 They do get the wrong addresses, so perhaps that what happened to you. Hopefully you've heard the last of it now.

Poodlelove · 12/12/2025 13:14

This happened to me years and years ago.
I think it was my elderly next door neighbours.
Never found out who but I was very shaken . I did write to the school but you should email them , because your children's teacher will obviously be told by your kids.
I would be worried that they had got the wrong house too and nobody is checking on those children .
The police will be able to tell a warm loving home immediately that they walk through the door and seeing and speaking to your children .
In the end I moved , It didn't feel the same any more , we didn't have a for sale sign up and there was no Rightmove. The first people heard of our move was when the removal van turned up.

mummybearSW19 · 12/12/2025 13:14

Hello! Happened to me about 10 years ago. There was no further follow up.
Again they came at a similar time in the morning.
Stayed for only a few minutes and then apologised before heading off.

VickyEadieofThigh · 12/12/2025 13:16

CocoPlum · 12/12/2025 11:54

Or that children nearby were screaming and the police were given the wrong address by someone who thought it could be your house?

Show quote history

Like the time 2 police came to our door one evening, having had a report we were having a massive party with VERY loud music. The party was clearly in the next road that backed on to ours - we took them out to the garden so they could hear it...

We had two guests for dinner, but we didn't even have the TV or any music on!

MinnieCauldwell · 12/12/2025 13:18

flutisy · 12/12/2025 11:51

I would worry that it wasn't a malicious report, but that the police somehow ended up checking the wrong address?

My XH was arrested in our house by six burly coppers. Wrong man, the guy they wanted had a similar name and similar sounding address. Could be wrong house

TheonlywayIcoulddothatwasifyouwantedmetoo · 12/12/2025 13:27

They will make a safeguarding referral as a matter of course but should fully explain their findings which amount to no concerns so social services will then make a decision as to whether they also need to assess.

KeepPumping · 12/12/2025 13:33

BusyFrizzyLizzie · 12/12/2025 11:40

This morning two police appeared at our front door at 8:00 saying they had had an anonymous report that we had been locking our children out in the garden and leaving them to scream for hours.

To be clear, this is entirely untrue. Never happened. I don't even remember when the children were last in the garden, given the recent cold and wet.

They asked if they could come in and take a look around. I was very shocked, and had nothing to hide, so readily agreed. The kids were in their uniforms having breakfast. Both very small (KS1).

The police looked about for 30 seconds and then said that they'd seen enough and were happy to leave. I asked if I should expect any further follow up from social services and they said no. They suggested it could have been a malicious report (I'm not sure that makes me feel better at all!). I volunteered mine and my children's ages and names, as it seems that it's for the best that they do any investigations they wish and find nothing untoward.

They were very apologetic as they left, and I fully understand their position. I would rather that spurious or malicious reports be investigated than children who are being abused go unidentified. However, I'm left pretty shaken by events.

Can anyone tell me if there are likely to be next steps, and if so what those might be? And is there anything pre-emptive I should be doing? Of course my eldest was thrilled that the police visited and was very excited about telling teachers and friends, so it will be all over the class by this evening 🙈... should I contact the school so that they're aware?

All very odd and I hope it's a one-off, but also don't want to sleepwalk into a bigger problems.

Thanks!

Next steps will be that someone making stuff up about child welfare will be charged with something or at least cautioned? Any neighbours with mental health issues, they could have imagined or misinterpreted something?

Isobel201 · 12/12/2025 13:34

they could have got the wrong house, I had a letter posted through my letterbox complaining about dogs making noises and I wasn't keeping any dogs in the house at the time.

Pricelessadvice · 12/12/2025 13:35

Have you heard any local kids screaming?

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 12/12/2025 13:36

BreakingBroken · 12/12/2025 11:53

Were the police really the police? Potential robbers casing your home?
Was it the right home?

😂

Needlenardlenoo · 12/12/2025 13:36

CocoPlum · 12/12/2025 11:54

Or that children nearby were screaming and the police were given the wrong address by someone who thought it could be your house?

Show quote history

This seems the most likely explanation.

We've had several letters of complaint about bonfires we've never had...

Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 12/12/2025 13:36

Dementia - if that's what it was - and indeed various mental health conditions can be so cruel: obviously to the sufferer but also to their family, friends and neighbours who end up suffering the consequences of the illness indirectly.

My DGM had psychosis and schizophrenia all her life. She heard voices constantly. She only once very briefly had a phone, but was scared of it as it seemed to her like another way for the voices to threaten her, so she demanded that we remove it.

It was probably as well, to be honest, that she didn't have a phone - if she had, she probably would have been calling the police non-stop about the vicious things that the neighbours were saying about her and the threats they were making; all of them only 'true' in her own mind.

After she died, we ended up bumping into a number of the neighbours when sorting out her house. Apart from one slightly over-friendly man, we could tell that they were really lovely people in a very friendly community, who sincerely asked after her and genuinely had wished her well.

Lamentingalways · 12/12/2025 13:37

Whatsthematterwiththebatinthecave · 12/12/2025 12:17

You can ask the Council and police for a SAR and then you can see the report. When this happened to me, the Council forgot to redact the name of the person who made the malicious report (which confirmed my thoughts about who had done it).

Ooh that’s perfect!

ChristmasinBrighton · 12/12/2025 13:37

It’s either wrong address or malicious complaint.

Keep your eyes peeled for any other oddities. Is it just you and the DC? If not, could DP have upset someone?