Police Welfare Check.
Discussion
I'm hoping someone can give me some advice.
I have 3 children who live with me and visit there mum on a Saturday. However Yesterday my 6 yr old son asked if he could stop over. I agreed but this morning I received a text from the EX saying she is keeping him there for good, in the background I could hear him pleading with her to let him come home. Initially the police said they couldn't do anything and suggested Social Services, who in turn suggested I phone the police and ask them to do a welfare visit. I did that at 8am this morning and have still heard nothing from them.
So the question is, how long does it usually take for them to do this visit and if she's not in when they go what happens?
Sorry for the long post, but getting a bit frustrated about it all now.
Thanks
Dan
I have 3 children who live with me and visit there mum on a Saturday. However Yesterday my 6 yr old son asked if he could stop over. I agreed but this morning I received a text from the EX saying she is keeping him there for good, in the background I could hear him pleading with her to let him come home. Initially the police said they couldn't do anything and suggested Social Services, who in turn suggested I phone the police and ask them to do a welfare visit. I did that at 8am this morning and have still heard nothing from them.
So the question is, how long does it usually take for them to do this visit and if she's not in when they go what happens?
Sorry for the long post, but getting a bit frustrated about it all now.
Thanks
Dan
It depends on the risk. I imagine it's low-risk unless you'll tell me otherwise. Is the child likely to suffer any harm? Is his mother's a suitable environment? Food, heating, clothing etc. Will he still be able to attend school if staying there? That may sound basic and obvious, but without those sort of things being absent, or there being any risk of harm, the police aren't going to be that interested, as that's not their job. Any court orders in place?
It is a social issue. I don't want to bash social services as they have a tough job, but their answer is to often say "phone the police" when it's totally inappropriate. If there's no previous history with them, they are likely to do this. People then get told by the police it's a social services job and get bounced around, which is crap. There's no reason social workers can't go an make a visit and go from there.
Of course if there's history and risk it may be different.
Call the police on 101 for an update. Do you have a reference number?
If the child is safe and there are no orders in place, the police will only tell you they are safe and that you need to take legal advice around child contact.
It is a social issue. I don't want to bash social services as they have a tough job, but their answer is to often say "phone the police" when it's totally inappropriate. If there's no previous history with them, they are likely to do this. People then get told by the police it's a social services job and get bounced around, which is crap. There's no reason social workers can't go an make a visit and go from there.
Of course if there's history and risk it may be different.
Call the police on 101 for an update. Do you have a reference number?
If the child is safe and there are no orders in place, the police will only tell you they are safe and that you need to take legal advice around child contact.
thanks for the reply, to answer a few of your question, no he won't be able to attend school as she lives to far, the 'environment' is a 3 bed house with no beds, mattresses on the floor, damp on the bedroom walls and no carpets, furniture consists of a sofa she has little food and no money to get any more.
Yes I do have a reference number but for the past 20 mins 101 has not been answering.
I think they may have been as I have just received a text from the EX asking for social services phone number as the police have asked her to contact them.
Yes I do have a reference number but for the past 20 mins 101 has not been answering.
I think they may have been as I have just received a text from the EX asking for social services phone number as the police have asked her to contact them.
danwins said:
no beds, mattresses on the floor, damp on the bedroom walls and no carpets, furniture consists of a sofa she has little food and no money to get any more
Did you emphasise this point when initially reporting the matter? Hopefully if the welfare check has been completed you'll get an update shortly.
have you been granted custody of your kids or has this just been agreed informally
I would be inclined to go round then call the police, kick up a big fuss, report it as a kidnapping etc
it's easy for them to ignore a custody dispute where you've phoned up and said your ex partner has said she is taking custody of your child, but it's difficult to ignore someone phoning up saying i'm at my partner's house, to collect my kid, she's now refusing to let him out the house and he's screaming and shouting to be let out.
I would be inclined to go round then call the police, kick up a big fuss, report it as a kidnapping etc
it's easy for them to ignore a custody dispute where you've phoned up and said your ex partner has said she is taking custody of your child, but it's difficult to ignore someone phoning up saying i'm at my partner's house, to collect my kid, she's now refusing to let him out the house and he's screaming and shouting to be let out.
ging84 said:
I would be inclined to go round then call the police, kick up a big fuss, report it as a kidnapping etc.
Ignore this b
ks. Do not go around and "kick-up a big fuss" - you want that dragged up if there are legal custody battles in the future? Or risk arrest?
Don't report is as a kidnapping. It's not.
ging84 said:
it's easy for them to ignore a custody dispute where you've phoned up and said your ex partner has said she is taking custody of your child
Yes, because it's family law, not criminal. ging84 said:
have you been granted custody of your kids or has this just been agreed informally
I would be inclined to go round then call the police, kick up a big fuss, report it as a kidnapping etc
it's easy for them to ignore a custody dispute where you've phoned up and said your ex partner has said she is taking custody of your child, but it's difficult to ignore someone phoning up saying i'm at my partner's house, to collect my kid, she's now refusing to let him out the house and he's screaming and shouting to be let out.
Very poor advice. I would be inclined to go round then call the police, kick up a big fuss, report it as a kidnapping etc
it's easy for them to ignore a custody dispute where you've phoned up and said your ex partner has said she is taking custody of your child, but it's difficult to ignore someone phoning up saying i'm at my partner's house, to collect my kid, she's now refusing to let him out the house and he's screaming and shouting to be let out.
OP, you haven't answered the question re court orders. So you have residence of him?
This would have a massive bearing on what action I'd be taking in the situation, together with the issue of is he safe.
Damp walls and a mattress on the floor don't sound good, but aren't cause fr immediate concern in isolation.
What about drugs? Her partner(s)? Is she a prostitute? Is he at risk of abuse?
This would have a massive bearing on what action I'd be taking in the situation, together with the issue of is he safe.
Damp walls and a mattress on the floor don't sound good, but aren't cause fr immediate concern in isolation.
What about drugs? Her partner(s)? Is she a prostitute? Is he at risk of abuse?
Social Services saying 'call the Police'. What a surprise. 
Your first problem is that outside of mon-fri 9x5, then Social Services (like our illustrious mental health teams), don't give a flying fk. Custody disputes are not Police matters, but like everything else, it gets lumped on us and we're expected to deal. I'm afraid rising demand and drastically reduced numbers mean jobs are prioritised and yours will not be classed as 'immediate'.
Your first problem is that outside of mon-fri 9x5, then Social Services (like our illustrious mental health teams), don't give a flying f
k. Custody disputes are not Police matters, but like everything else, it gets lumped on us and we're expected to deal. I'm afraid rising demand and drastically reduced numbers mean jobs are prioritised and yours will not be classed as 'immediate'. As Elroy Blue says, anything out of hours or in the too difficult box comes to the Police, has ever since I joined in 25yrs ago.
Someone should attend, at the very least for a welfare check, but again as EB said, it won't be a priority blue light call, unless your wife is in breach of something or has a history of any harm towards the child.
Someone should attend, at the very least for a welfare check, but again as EB said, it won't be a priority blue light call, unless your wife is in breach of something or has a history of any harm towards the child.
Sorry not replied sooner, had to go and let of steam and my poor sister copped for it.finally got through to 101 and they have attended but not updated the file?got a missed call from Scott at Maltby police, finaly got through to them and he's going to call me back.
There is no court orders as things were amicable so worked it out between ourselves.
I did think of going down and doing more than kick the door in but common sence took over.
She's not a pro or addict, and I know it's not illegal but she is a few sandwiches short of a picnic.
Just have to wait for Scott's phone call, hope he's not gone of shift.
Thanks for all the advice and support.
Dan
There is no court orders as things were amicable so worked it out between ourselves.
I did think of going down and doing more than kick the door in but common sence took over.
She's not a pro or addict, and I know it's not illegal but she is a few sandwiches short of a picnic.
Just have to wait for Scott's phone call, hope he's not gone of shift.
Thanks for all the advice and support.
Dan
An update for those interested. welfare check was done but it seems damp dirty conditions are fine for children. As the pc involbed is off duty until tomorrow wont know anymore. I do know she lied to him about school. She tild him he was at one round the corner from her and he said that was fine. In fact he's at a school 20 miles away near me.
danwins said:
An update for those interested. welfare check was done but it seems damp dirty conditions are fine for children.
The police won't remove children unless there's a significant risk of harm to them, where they take out a Police Protection Order. These are designed for cases of serious neglect and risk, not custody issues. The police are there for criminal matters only. Everything below that is an issue for social services and family law matters.
It sounds like they could have explained their scope and purpose much better, though. It's also unacceptable to not get back to you before going off duty unless there are exceptional circumstances.
La Liga said:
he police won't remove children unless there's a significant risk of harm to them, where they take out a Police Protection Order. These are designed for cases of serious neglect and risk, not custody issues. The police are there for criminal matters only.
Everything below that is an issue for social services and family law matters.
It sounds like they could have explained their scope and purpose much better, though. It's also unacceptable to not get back to you before going off duty unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Wise words as ever La Liga.
Everything below that is an issue for social services and family law matters.
It sounds like they could have explained their scope and purpose much better, though. It's also unacceptable to not get back to you before going off duty unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Wise words as ever La Liga.
La Liga said:
he police won't remove children unless there's a significant risk of harm to them, where they take out a Police Protection Order. These are designed for cases of serious neglect and risk, not custody issues. The police are there for criminal matters only.
Everything below that is an issue for social services and family law matters.
It sounds like they could have explained their scope and purpose much better, though. It's also unacceptable to not get back to you before going off duty unless there are exceptional circumstances.]
wise words as ever La Liga
Everything below that is an issue for social services and family law matters.
It sounds like they could have explained their scope and purpose much better, though. It's also unacceptable to not get back to you before going off duty unless there are exceptional circumstances.]
wise words as ever La Liga
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff