Police intelligence

[Pip101]

Hi. This is my first time posting so I’m not 100% sure how everything works. Apologies if I get anything wrong.

I have recently given birth and received a phone call from the police to ask if I’d like to know some information they have about my babies father (my partner) - I said yes and they came to my house to tell me that they have some recent intelligence that he is involved in drug dealing. As you can imagine this has turned my world upside down. (I am 99% sure that this information is false) but I am not being naive and disregarding it altogether.

I want to be able to safeguard my child and myself properly (this is the reason the police have disclosed the info to me). But I am left in a predicament as I am not allowed to tell the babies father (my partner) that I know this information. At the moment we were in the process of him moving to my address permanently and I have delayed this whilst I figure out what to do.

I have spoken with the police and they said that I can still allow him access to his baby and they have said that I don’t need to split up with him or anything - there is no current investigation or plans to arrest, they have just been given information on him and disclosed it to me. They said no other services are involved/know this information apart from my midwife.

I am at a loss as to what to do going forward as if there is no investigation he cannot prove his innocence, likewise if I’m unable to tell him the information I know he also can’t do anything to prove that the information is false. I don’t want to risk my baby being taken away from me and want to do everything I can to safeguard her properly.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance

[KatKat10]

How can you be sure this was a genuine call? Sounds fishy to me.

[Pip101]

That’s what I thought as well, but the police officer came to my address to disclose the information

[KatKat10]

I don't really know what to say. Do you think the police are testing you to see if you can be trusted to keep quiet? Even more bizzare they are going on a tip off and not investigating.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Pip101

Welcome to the parents’ discussion board and thank you for your post. My name is Suzie and I am Family Rights Group’s online adviser. I am sorry that I was unable to respond to your post sooner. We provide advice to parents and families where children’s services are involved or where a family needs their help.

Firstly, congratulations on the birth of your baby girl. I hope that you and your baby daughter are both doing well.

I can understand that you are feeling very shocked and confused by the information provided to you by the police i.e. that they suspect your partner (the baby’s father) may be involved in drug-dealing, although there is no current police investigation at present. They have asked you not to notify your partner of the information that they have shared with you which has added to your uncertainty about what to do and has undoubtedly put you in a difficult situation. You have stated very clearly that your baby is your main concern and you want to keep yourself and your baby safe but understandably are worried about what action to take when the allegations about your partner cannot be discussed with him, and are not proved or disproved at this point. You have been planning to move in together.

I am unable to advise on the police role, however, it is likely that they would only be able to share this ‘intelligence’ on a need to know basis and so they may be concerned that your partner’s possible criminal activities could put you and your baby at risk of harm in some way, perhaps from criminal associates? I am unsure why your midwife is the only professional apart from the police who has been given this information. Have you discussed it with her and sought her advice? Children’s services are the lead agency when it comes to promoting children’s welfare and safeguarding them so again I am unclear how this decision to disclose information to you was taken without input from children’s services.

I would suggest that you clarify further with police and your midwife what their expectations are of how you can manage this information and the situation and clarify why children’s services are not involved.

As your baby’s mother, you automatically have parental responsibility (PR) for her which you means you can legally make decisions for her. If your partner’s name is on her birth certificate then he also has PR. There are no restrictions on contact and the police are not advising you to limit contact. I think that you are being a responsible parent by not moving in together as planned, at the moment, until you have more information or can get further advice to help you make an informed decision.

It would be a good idea to contact an organisation such as the NSPCC for guidance and support as they can help you consider the situation more fully, assist you to weigh up your options and decide how to proceed. Or you can speak to children’s services to ask their professional advice. Please see here for more information about children’s services.

If children’s services become involved in the future and you need any further advice then please do post back on this discussion board. Or you may prefer to call our freephone advice line on 0808 8010366 instead; the lines are open from 9.30 am to 3.00 pm, Mon to Fri (apart from Bank Holidays).

I hope that the difficult situation you are in is clarified soon.

Best wishes

Suzie