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Spurgeons and Dad.Info doesn’t investigate reports of abuse or neglect. But below, you can find advice on who to contact if you have concerns about a child or young person.
Reporting a concern
It can be difficult to know what to do if you think a child is at risk. It’s important to remember that if you’ve spotted things that don’t seem right, others will have too. Speaking up can make sure that child gets help as soon as possible.
The sooner you contact your local children’s social care duty team, the quicker they can act. They’re available 24 hours a day, and can make an anonymous report if that feels safer. If a child is in immediate danger, please call the police straight away by dialling 999.
Report child abuse or neglect to your local council
Use these links to get in touch with your local council:
Urgent advice please guys. Contact weekend for me this weekend and unexpectedly my child was dropped off by an ex family member who stays in a diff part of the world. Last night as with most other nights is likely to have been spent devouring wine as this is basically all this person does. There is no way that they get up and drink wine but it is very likely last nights consumption dictates she is vastly over the limit today despite the overnight break. This is not spite my childs safety is my priority. Do i phone the police and risk looking petty even though im genuinely concerned?
This is a considerable distance on one of the most notorious roads in the country.
...I understand your concern, but you are basing this on conjecture and likelihoods....without proof you are in danger of being accused of being spiteful and malicious.
However if you have serious concerns then doing nothing isn't an option....calling the police might be a bit extreme, but you are within your rights to do so if you suspect she is over the limit. If you do and she isn't, then you risk contact being stopped.
Could you contact the mother and discuss this with her in a non confrontational way? Can you offer an alternative to return your child? Perhaps making the journey back yourself?
You could buy one of those DIY breathalysers and ask her to take it just to make sure...although she may not take that well! Her refusal would allow you to refuse to let her take your child though.
If you have these concerns then its something that you should address with the mother, either request that this particular person doesn't pick up in future because of your doubts, or at least that the mum gives an undertaking that anyone doing the pick up doesn't drink for 24 hours before making the journey.
Good luck with it.
Thanks. Prior to the acrimony of splitting up this family member wd think nothing of drinking three bottles of wine till 2am and driving at 9am in fairness i think in the mistaken view a breath test would be passed. Not that i drink that much but in an identical situation there is no way i would be under the limit and wd simply not drive the next day at all. Sadly in this case if this phillisophy was adopted in this case they would never be able to drive again given this is a nightly occurrence.
I think ill have to rationalise that at least 12 hrs will have passes since the last drink and that they are fit. What kind of society do we live in that a fathers genuine concern which may or not be quantified today is to scared to report a genuine concern for fear of being brandished as vindictive when my childs safety is my only concern. I despair
Hi There,
Where as I agree with NJ, calling the police could come accross as vindictive, It would only come accross this way if you called thema and asked them to attend your home when this person arrived.
However, you are able toinform the police without disclosing who you are, if you feel someone is drink driving, they would need car details and route she wouuld take, and when they would take the route, now there may be a suspision that it was you, but for me I would do it as the risk to your child is clear.
I think that if you asked her to take the test, it would result in further issues for you.
GTTS
OK, an average bottle of wine contains about 10 units (700ml at 14%), and an average person clears about 1 unit per hour, but you need to start counting from when they start drinking, not when they finish. However, 3 bottles, if started at, say 7pm, isn't going to be out of the system until the following night so potentially still way over the limit in the morning. I think the police now encourage people to report drink drivers - it's up to the police to stop them, and if they've drunk that much, I think they are going to reek of alcohol in the morning. My personal opinion is that you should report them (anonymously) - potentially they could end or ruin a lot of lives if they aren't fit to drink, and not just your childs.
OK, an average bottle of wine contains about 10 units (700ml at 14%), and an average person clears about 1 unit per hour, but you need to start counting from when they start drinking, not when they finish. However, 3 bottles, if started at, say 7pm, isn't going to be out of the system until the following night so potentially still way over the limit in the morning. I think the police now encourage people to report drink drivers - it's up to the police to stop them, and if they've drunk that much, I think they are going to reek of alcohol in the morning. My personal opinion is that you should report them (anonymously) - potentially they could end or ruin a lot of lives if they aren't fit to drink, and not just your childs.
I think this is right, 100% Your main concern is for your child, but actually there is more at stake as well, as actd says, if you know they are drinking then I would report.
GTTS