just want to tell someone. social services.

[karaelmihr]

ok

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Karaelmihr,

Thank you for your post and welcome to the parents’ forum.
My name is Suzie. I am an online adviser answering your enquiry today.

I am sorry to hear about your child’s frightening experience and the understandable anxiety it has caused you.

There is no law that forbids from police from interviewing a child on their own as a witness to a potential crime, but it seems that this may not have been handled sensitively. Most children would be more comfortable and be a more effective witness with a supportive adult present.
For casual questioning (e.g., as a witness), police can approach your child anywhere—school, street, home—without you there. However, if they’re a suspect in custody, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) demands an “appropriate adult” (like a parent or guardian) during formal interviews.
You may wish to make a complaint to police about the way your son was treated. You can link to information on how to make a formal complaint about police conduct here.

You also write that children’s services did not help when you told them about your son’s experience. You write that another child from the same area was later attacked by the same man.
You could make a formal complaint to children’s services. Information on the complaints process is here.
You may also wish to speak with your local councillor about what you feel is the inadequate service you received from the local authority children’s services. You can find details of how to find your local council representative here.

Your elected member of parliament holds regular sessions for local constituents and may also be of help on a safety issue affecting your community. You can enter your postcode and find contact details for your local member of parliament here.

You may find the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) pages on how to keep children safe helpful. NSPCC also have a helpline for people who are concerned about a child’s welfare on 0808 800 5000. Email: [email protected].

Obviously, you or anybody else who perceives that a child is in immediate danger should phone 999 and ask for police.

Should you wish to speak with one of our experienced advisers, you can telephone our advice line on 0808 801 0366. The advice line is open from 9.30am to 3.00pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays.)

I hope this is helpful

Best wishes

Suzie