is this a child protectuon issue - wwyd??

[mebythesea]

Right not sure where to post this but usually get very sound advice from you guys so ...

Walking dd's home from school a few days ago and walked past a car belonging to a local couple who live near us. as we went by a great cloud of skunk smoke came billowing out of the car. I looked in the car and there was a baby in a carseat in the back and a toddler. Felt really sickened by this.
This family are quite rough, they live in a council house with an old man one of their their grandads maybe and lots of other people. I can never quite make out who lives there as seem to be so many different people using the house. Im pretty sure they are known to social services.
But im just now worried about these poor children being exposed to such a strong drug.

Would i be wrong to talk to the social services about my worries? Feel bad 'dobbing' them in but imo its very wrong. So what do you think?

i can say i do know the difference between normal unadulterated weed and skunk. Skunk being much stronger, buzzier and more 'trippy'

Thanks for that. It's nice to know (or not) that it isn't only my region that has the more powerful stuff on the streets.
The problem is that the kids often think that they are buying the "harmless" weed that was about in the 60's, when in truth it is a completely different drug.

OP- You are doing the right thing reporting this.

You should report any suspicions to Childrens Social Care, let them investigate and assess the situation.

Don't expect them to be rushing round pronto - it doesn't work like that. Takes a few multi-agency meetings before the make a decision to even look at the family. I think they wait for something shit to happen before they do anything!

Awbless- it that is the case then the LA isn't working to the law, all CP issues have strict time scales. The multi agency meetings come after the initial home visit.

This isn't a CP issues because it's marijuana.

It's (possibly) a child protection issue because the parents are so out of it, they think it's fine to do illegal things in full public view. And, to a lesser extent, expose their children to the same.

There's a massive difference between having a quiet joint at night as a parent, without your children around, and sitting in daylight in the car with cannabis smoke seeping out of the car windows.

If they are driving the car it is a police matter also.

Birds that angle interested me, for instance if you were sitting in your car drunk (but with no intention of driving) I believe you can still be charged with DUI.

Report them to SS . You can do it anonymously.

They may be known to them anyway.

I have no issue with adults deciding to smoke whatever the heck they want - but to impose that on small children is wrong. Isn't there even talk of banning smokingin cars with children (or already banned ??!!).

Plus - were they planning on driving the car whilst high? Dangerous to more than just the kids eh!

I went to a party last year and shared a spliff with the head of CP for a local authority - shan't say which obviously. It was their stash and it was the strongest skunk I have ever had so much so that I blacked out about 5 minutes later. A bit later the same person cracked out the Ecstasy.

I would imagine that SS will only be vaguely interested in this.

igggi-it is an automatic £80 fine in my city, even if you are not driving.

Drug driving carries similar to drink driving,but i don't know if we are a in a pilot type scheme.

Scott- again you are quoting someone who isn't following their code of practice, if they are a SW. Luckily they still do their jobs properly and follow the guidelines.