It makes me so mad!

[tigwig]

The other day my husband and I were just approaching the bottom of our street in the car and a transit van went past with a toddler sat on a woman's knee on the front seat. Not only did she have no seatbelt on she was literally hanging out of the completely wound down window and was being held onto by her legs! We ended up pulling up at the side of them at the traffic lights where I put my window down and asked them if ther cared if their child went through the windscreen! There reply was oh we're only going down the road! I said well thats ok then cos you won't have an accident then will you ! It really makes me furious when I see people like this and wondered can you actually report them to the police or do you have to just hope they will be caught?

[VillageVicar]

Sadly, the police can do little �post offence.� However, in some constabularies, depending on work loads, some PCSO�s are actually sent around to �have a word.� Generally the �word� is that they ask to see the car seat in the vehicle and they point out to the parents that such actions are child-endangerment and they don�t wish to have to contact social services. However, it�s hit or miss depending on the constabulary.

A few months ago I watched a parent holding her child out of a 4th floor window whilst she shouted down to her friends. This went on for so long that I was able to chat with the police whilst they had a street security camera change its direction to face the building. (The building has a �history� of problems.) It was with that live footage that they were finally able to take action to protect the child�s interests. The infant was already on the register.

Again, this is yet another sad signpost to the pervasive apathy in some communities. One could argue that those children at risk will most likely become part of the statistics encompassing social problems within our country.

I am particularly sensitive to this subject due to our own family tragedies.

Sad indeed!

Fr Bill

[Kleiber]

I agree - it makes my blood boil! As an ex-copper myself, I can honestly say that the police today are utterly useless! All they're concerned about is figures & persecuting innocent people going about their legitimate business (personal experience!). Rant over. K

[VillageVicar]

Kleiber: My best mate has just retired as a PC. I can�t tell you the times I�ve watched him over the years, bang his fists on the sofa with anger over these very subjects. But for him, it was always compounded by his absolute exasperation over the ludicrous paperwork he was constantly laboured with, prohibiting him from being on the beat, doing what he was paid to do. It�s a sad state of affairs.

Whilst he�s now retired, he works at one of the police call centres, taking emergency calls. He says it�s just as absurd there with the time-wasters and �losers� (his word) that phone in.

In deed, it�s a sad state of affairs.

Fr Bill

[Kleiber]

Hi, Fr Bill - my late husband & I were both in the police. I served 12 & a half years & he did 25, both in the Met. As you say, it's a sad indictment of the times that the once proud British police force has resorted to this. In our day, we "nicked" the villains & gave words of advice to those who perhaps "strayed" alittle - now, they let the villains away with murder & nick the young kids who aren't really breaking the law, but are an easy target. What gets me is that they seem to go for those between 17 & 18, as at 17, they don't have to have an adult with them if they're arrested, and they're too young to know what's going on, so when they're told, "You don't want a solicitor, do you? You'll get out of here quicker if you don't", they say they don't want one, because all they want to do is get home. Another rant - not quite over, but I could go on for hours!!

[chitchat]

It makes me mad that these people think that the law is there for other people and not them, but its their children who are the ones that are at risk. They would not put their best china on the back seat without making sure it wouldnt fall and break, but their own children is not given a second thought. Its absolutely crazy.

Unfortunately, ringing the police after the event is a waste of time, they have to catch them at it, and I suspect that they wouldnt take at notice anyway. Grrrrrr it makes my blood boil.

[sarnieken]

Earlier this year I was a witness to an accident where a 6 year old boy was killed in a car crash.
I won't say accident as it was due to another motorist driving like a complete a*se. (Not a boy racer either but a 70 year old man).
Anyway, this car that had been hit was spun round into two cars and the rear was completely mashed in.

The mother was badly injured after striking her head on the B' Pillar but she was alive because she wore a seatbelt.

The older child was fine as she was above the legal height and wore a seatbelt.

the 6 year old boy was sat on the back seat, with no seat of any kind.

i'm sure that she was only nipping down the road too but I wish I had a picture of the little lad and the injures he had sustained that I could show these kinds of drivers.

The mental image of the little lad will stay with me, especially when my child is born next year and it should be etched on the minds of these people who obviously don't care about their children whatsoever.

I believe it should be seen as a form of child neglect if you fail to take appropriate action to protect your child.