Abuse of a child - urgent.

HurdyGurdy

If you do want to remain completely anonymous (but do remember that the details you share will likely be shared with the family during the course of an investigation, and those details MAY be sufficient to identify you to the family), then contact the NSPCC.

They will refer on to the local Children's Services team, but you can refer to NSPCC totally anonymously.

However, if you DO refer to NSPCC, please give as much information as you possibly can, so that when they do refer to CS, they know the name, age, address, and if possible, school for the child. Otherwise they can spend a long time trying to identify the child, and that time could be crucial.

It sounds as though this poor child is desperately unhappy, even if the degree of abuse has been exaggerated by her (and no reason to suppose this is the case), and one way or another, she needs support. It may be that just getting a call from CS will be enough for the family to pull themselves up and change behaviours.

rpc

You need to report this to either social services or the police. Social services would be my first choice in these circumstances.

I am a Child Protection Officer in a sporting body and the training we receive is very clear. If anyone receives the sort of disclosures that you have received, the police or social services must be contacted asap. It is not you job to decide if there is abuse, or what action needs taken as you are not qualified to do so. You need to refer this to the professionals and let them look into it.

peachyprice

j.e.j. wrote: »

I would try and ascertain what's going on, and if you have reason to believe that all or any of what the girl is telling you is true then it needs to be reported.

Sorry, I have to disagree with this.

It doesn't really matter whether it's true or not, this girl needs help.

If it's true she needs to be removed from the situation ASAP.

If it's not true, she's clearly a very troubled child if she is making up lies about her carers and this is a cry for help.

Either way OP, you need to ring someone. It's up to you whether it's SS who, if lots of stories on here are anything to go by won't let you report wthout giving your name and won't hide it from the family, or NSPPC giving as much info as possible so that they can pass this on to SS.

go_cat

Just in case this is the child herself asking for help under the guise of a grandmother please contact Childline

http://www.childline.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

Chakani

OP, (I am assuming that you are an adult, or older relative of the girl in question) - you cannot keep these things secret, and I think you have to tell her this. Don't promise to keep anything to yourself - you could promise not to mention it to the grandparents, but she will lose more trust in you if you promise not to tell and then do it anyway. Much better in the long run to make sure she knows where she is with you, and that you have her best interests at heart, even if you can't do what she wants you to do.

alias*alibi

princessdon wrote: »

Also to add that SS will not divulge the source of their enquiry, it could have came from a neighbour, friend, realtive, school or anyone.

There is nothing to lose and everything to gain from ringing them. as above it is likely other concerns have been noted already, sometimes it takes a lot of small things to add up to a bigger thing, and isolated incidents on their own are not proof enough.

You have something in your possession that cannot be ignored.

Not trying to worry you BUT .. How would you feel if the child was severely injured and you hadn't done anything?

I wouldn't be too sure about that, trust me! OP; you must say if you wish to remain anonymous from the grandparents otherwise social services will divulge your name. But please; don't do nothing because this child has confided in you and as an adult you have a duty to keep her safe. Remain anonymous to the grandparents but make sure you don't do an anonymous referral otherwise you won't be kept in the loop with what happens. You have no choice but to report this.

skattykatty

As others have said: you MUST act now. Report it.

Carfal

Contact Social Services or the Police. Tonight.
Do not try to investigate or question the child as this may hamper any future investigations.
This child needs help.