Anyone know what number to complaint on for a child alone at home

Got a call from the police station today, she handles social service. She was very understanding and will take my complaint. They will first call the parents and give them a warning, next step - will visit if they continue and parents can be imprisoned if they continue. She sounded local, empathised that this was not acceptable and angry that parents would do this. Even more upset when she found out the family was well off, as she initially said they counsel families on options available within financial resources or ask the family to consider going back to home country rather than risking their child's life. Told her of others that I think do it on an adhoc basis, and she's more than happy to receive list of names and contact numbers and give them all a warning... So ladies if you know of any parents leaving their kids alone at home, ust drop me an email and I'll send you her contact. They will also take up cases of child physical abuse. So something is happening and they are bothered here. :) edited by summerdream on 07/02/2012 <em>edited by summerdream on 07/02/2012</em>

Desert rose don't worry I never read your comments :-) and I would be angry if someone sits on this sort of thing for 3 years...having said that - now that I asked a couple of moms waiting for the school bus this morning - they ALL know it...and they think its not our problem :(. ***edited to remove personal info <em>edited by summerdream on 07/02/2012</em>

I feel sorry for the OP..at least she is trying to do something about a situation that most would turn a blind eye to. Good on you. Also, as far as I can understand she was only made aware of the situation on Friday edited by nobody-in-particular on 05/02/2012 Don't feel sorry - I understand that some of us have led rather comfortable lives and have no idea of the difficult situation someone else can be in. I know I try my very best and have broken my back trying to bend backwards on a few instances. Thanks for the support. <em>edited by summerdream on 05/02/2012</em>

The boy does go to school, he is alone at home after he returns from school. I learnt that several people are aware about this. As he arrives from school, when my kids do and lots of mums/nanny's there know. No one has bothered to do anything and it seems there is at least one other parent who does that in the same building :(. I can almost hear what the mum's going to say - its a typical reply from people of my culture, heard it before.... 'the child's really sensible and I don't know if I can trust baby sitters". Well we do end up spending at least 2.8K on our nannies per month multiplied by 12 that's a saving they can spend on family bonding time on holidays!!!! (sarcastic here) A mum who goes clubbing with her husband when kids are asleep said to me she was sure her kids knew how to handle them selves in an emergency - her kids were about 11 and 5 at that time! This mum had her sofa stuck to the window and her 5 year old who 's a handful, I have seen dangle out the 2 times I visited them. The mum and dad came downstairs to say goodbye to us and I insisted they don't - they simply didn't listen and as I was leaving the boy threw the TV remote control down - mum still didn't flinch. I told her this was simply unacceptable...she looked at me as if I was swearing at her and I left - never visited them again... I don't want to say I am holier than some of them - but seriously every halloweens for instance several little kids as young as 3 even go around trick or treating with no adult supervision...even this year I joined the group that had my kids and had my kids nanny go alongwith another group - we stay at a distance and try not bother the kids, but I don't know how parents can let their children go around ringing door bells of strangers. Mind you, I can't remember a parent even being thankful or worried for that matter - given I don't know most of them. At the end of the evening I dropped each of the kids a group of about 15-18 to their apartments.... and I was thinking some parents would be panicky as the kids were out for long - seems several didn't even realise their kids were out...there was one who was not a home even...took the child back to my home. I plan to put a note a day before Halloween's on the notice board this year. Back to work now! <em>edited by summerdream on 05/02/2012</em>

:( Poor child :( I agree with Fulla, though - can none of the several families who know about it go to the police? I guess it's in Al Ameen's hands now, but we need to start being more proactive if we want this to end. I know we can't save the world, but if it comes to us being the person who's been shown what's happening, it's better to take the greater action sooner rather than have to live with that 'if only I'd...' forever. Shame there are so many families who feel their children are an 'inconvenience'. As someone once said 'they [our children'> didn't ask to come, we invited them'. I worry that they will take a long time to sort this out, the police may be able to come immediately. edited by AmyAus82 on 05/02/2012 In fairness, that family may adore their children and just be making REALLY poor judgement calls under very difficult circumstances...or genuinely be pretty ignorant about child safety. Who knows their financial pressures? Cultural attitudes? Education levels? For me, there's no excuse for a child being left alone, especially given that child is now school age so could be supervised at a school...but I haven't walked in their shoes so I think it's a bit unfair to assume they love their kids any less than any other parents or that they think their children are inconvenient. I try to be as non-judgemental as I can and I know there are families who really struggling financially and doing this - there's no excuse for leaving a little child alone at home, there's always ways and means, with the littlest of incomes if they are eligible to live here there are solutions. As for this family it annoys me all the more as they are well off...they have been on one month long vacation to a few months ago and another one coming up shortly - both expensive destinations.! So surely not financial issues, just serious priority problem, ...and hear this Mum's a teacher!!!

Thanks Green-ish...I hope I don't know you ... try not to let people around me know of my situation ... keep the superwoman image up ;) Update: Just got a call from Al Ameen. They asked how I can be so sure the child is alone. I assured them of what I know. They asked if the parents hit the child or had fights with each other. I told them I didn't think so. They have taken details from me and said they would rather transfer this to social services department and someone from there will call me.

summerdream. :( Your kids NEED YOU! Take care of yourself. xxxx I do Green-ish. I really try my best. Don't worry am a fighter. It can get very tough at times, with no support from the system for protection from abuse and still don't have full custody of the kids...it can get very stressful, given the law here allows him as the father to pick them up and leave the country if he choose so. Let that be, am in a good frame of mind today.

Police - might involve we having to visit the station, which in my current schedule not possible. With a fever in office today! Are you for real????? you know that a child is potential in danger and your schedule is too busy!!! Shame on you. Come on fulla. Are [u'>you[/u'> for real? There's your useless judgemental post, then there's glenfiddich offering to be helpful. That child is lucky you're at least watching out for him summerdream. And people who know that children are in danger and are too busy, sorry but they should be jugdged..... Unbelievable. Judgemental. Only I know of my situation ***** (edited - so as not to scare EWers, I am a fighter, don't worry) Do you need to know more?? I still try and be there and look out for others. PS - the posts on here mean that I'll be working even later in the office tonight. So I would rather you don't post again, so I don't spend more time replying to useless posts edited by summerdream on 05/02/2012 <em>edited by summerdream on 05/02/2012</em>

Police - might involve we having to visit the station, which in my current schedule not possible. With a fever in office today! Are you for real????? you know that a child is potential in danger and your schedule is too busy!!! Shame on you. You haven't been in Dubai for long enough! If you really think you can do something, I'll give you the address try reporting to the police. I honestly can't step out of office without loosing my job and as a single mum I can't do it. I am here inspite of a high fever, throwing up and worse all night. SD, please send the details to me at [email protected] - I've got time to follow up on this for you. Thank you so much. I'll put details in the email. Note, I just realised on Friday on what was happening, but my kids and the child tell me its been happening for years :(

Police - might involve we having to visit the station, which in my current schedule not possible. With a fever in office today! Are you for real????? you know that a child is potential in danger and your schedule is too busy!!! Shame on you. You haven't been in Dubai for long enough! If you really think you can do something, I'll give you the address try reporting to the police. I honestly can't step out of office without loosing my job and as a single mum I can't do it. I am here inspite of a high fever, throwing up and worse all night.

That child is way to young to be alone. You must call the police. Now. Look we all ask ourselves what whould you do......but you have to do it now. That child is lucky that he has not been hurt. I guess youve been watching out for while.....? you seem to know him? poor kid. call. dont think twice. Why dont some just not have kids if this is what theyll do? He's been alone since the age of 4...he's 7 now. All I can do is have told my kids nanny in case of a fire to look out for him too, after my kids are safe - he lives in the next apartment. SLM, this is happening all over the country. I know of 'friends' who talk about couple time and go out for dinners, clubbing once the kids area asleep 6-10 year olds. They don't understand why I am in shock when I hear that sort of thing and that maybe I was jealous of their couple time. The only thing I have done is distance from such people. Can't do anything else. I am the sort who has given up office and even family hours to try help others. Just believe me, I know its not a big deal for the police here...they'll ask me what right I have to interfere (I tried to report a likely sexual abuse by parents case a while ago - lots of evidence) and I was asked if I was family and that the couldn't lodge an enquiry based on suspicions and a woman's witness. The family then left where they used to live, so I have no idea. Another case, when I lived else where in Dubai, there was a physically abusive husband,I could hear his wife scream as she was being beaten up...one day I saw her bloodied when he threw her out. Police said she must complaint not me, finally the police did come when security called them and did nothing.. they had a bit of damage too with the apartment window broken etc and all they did is get him to agree he would pay for the broken window. I swear to this day I believe he did something nasty to her as in the same week there was even more screaming one night, I saw what looked like blood stains later outside his door and he threw his couch out which had what looked like blood on it too. Never saw the wife again and then he got a new one soon, who soon started getting beaten up too :( I just hope she left home after all the rubbish. Will wait on Alameen.