Netmums were hosting a live web chat on Facebook all about it and asked:
"What would you do if you saw or heard something that concerned you about a child? What stops you intervening?"
One of the first comments returned was this:
"What stops me
intervening? The fact that I don't know the full story. The fact that it's none
of my business. The fact that unless it is seriously dangerous or damaging then
just because it isn't the way I choose to parent, it doesn't mean it's my place
to judge."
Sadly
this response was flooded with 'likes' and many of the other comments
throughout the morning showed a confusion as to what and when to report and the
implications that were involved if they had 'got it wrong'.
The
NSPCC have said:
"We
don't want people to feel they have to make decisions about whether a child is
at risk. We're here 24/7 and by talking to the public about their worries we
can take the responsibility for protecting children off their shoulders - that's
why we say 'It might be nothing, but it could be something'"
In 2011, a record number of almost 45,000 people across the UK contacted the NSPCC because they were worried about a child. Around half of these cases were so serious they warranted immediate action. But a new report from the charityʼs helpline service found that 56 per cent of these serious calls were from people who had been concerned about a child for at least a month, and over a quarter had waited at least six months.
These
figures come as a new campaign, directed by Amanda Boyle
(Skins) is launched.
The
video mimics a well-known online meme but carries a serious message.
What this film is asking you to do is to trust your instincts when you think things aren't quite as they should be.
Don't wait. Hand it over to the experts.
It might be nothing, but it could be something.
