General Chat

Last summer at my friends house in Ashton he took me past the local school and pointed out a car with tinted windows near a school......some children approched it and went away...............they were buying drugs............I asked about the police and he replied that they already know....but do nothing

Jilly, I understand your feelings however.... Have you ever had any involvement with drug dealers before? Do you know the sort of things that they do for revenge and the Police seem powerless to be able to do anything that will stop them. I totally understand why this mother is protecting her son and I have an 8 year old myself. Yes the Police should be involved and be given the information that is common knowledge amongst the kids however do not ever name names. The best thing to do is Crime Stoppers however even if you save the life of another child offered drugs how would you feel if the drug dealers killed the child that you had named?

Hiya Jilly, Well all i can say is that if it was one of my sisters or brother i personally would ignore the mum and inform the school, police and talk about it in the village meeting thingy. I know its not fair to go against her wishes...BUT if it was you asking her not to are you 100% sure she would folow your wishes? End of the day your children are your children and you dont want these people getting to them, peer pressure is very strong...from someone who definatley knows! xxxx

I went to a similar meeting the other day the 'Army' equivilent and there it was mentioned that any child that is 10 years or older is legally responsible for there actions ! How that stands in Scotland though I am not sure as your legal system is different to our in England & Wales! Good luck with it do what you think is right at the end of the day you have a duty as a caring mother! Susie xx

Jilly that is frightening. You must do something, BUT... you must be careful, for yourself and your kids. Good luck with it. Deanna X

Hi JIlly, Just read your thread. No wonder you're furious. What a thing to happen. Stick to guns girl. Raven

I might have misunderstood this situation but I can understand the mother of the 9 year old being concerned about publicity as she might think the dealers would come down on her son as the tale teller (don't mean that in a derogatory way). I think if you all stick together and push the police to do something you might get somewhere but meantime I would also encourage the children not to be about alone while this situation is up in the air. If the police won't do anything get in touch with your local MP or at least a local Councillor. I would be a bit concerned about letting kids of 9 ish out without making sure they stay with their friends and that they all know the dangers of that first puff or pill. Can you arrange with their school to talk to them all of the dangers or get a reformed drug addict in who talks to young people about the foolishness of dabbling in drugs. If they are knowledgeable, they will feel more powerful saying no instead of being scared of being called wimps. Good luck, had a lot of this on our local park which was just across the road from my home, when my son was growing up. I let him watch tv warnings about drugs from the age of 5 and discussed things with him and I know he has never taken any drugs - he is 23.

Have I missed something here? Aren't the drug pushers adults? A 9-year-old being encouraged to do something he shouldn't is one thing and needs to be dealt with also, but the adults involved in this are the ones who should be arrested, given that they are breaking the law, not the children. I see what you're saying Peter, but personally I think the authorites have got it all upside down anyway. There's little point in filling the jails with the 'little guy' when the producers and cartels are virtually unstopped. Make no mistake, I think the people accosting these 9-year-olds should be dealt with with the full force of the law but they are still only a tiny part of a much bigger picture. Fruit for another thread perhaps. :-)

That's what I was saying Jilly, they can still arrest them, but no prosecution under 10 years old.

Felicity thats pretty much wot me and one of the other mums were saying earlier....... wot sort of message is it giving to the kids when we tell them that this sort of thing is wrong and illegal etc yet no one is gonna do anything about it!! And as for the police saying these kids are minors....they can still be arrested cant they??? they can still be dealt with cant they??? how many times do we see on the tele that so and so is under 16 and cant be named for legal reasons!!!!!

What on earth makes this mother think she is retaining her son's trust and respect by not dealing with this appropriately? Children need to know that the adults in their lives are in charge and will protect them both in the short and the long term. I agree that she needs to be careful, but there are anonymous ways of alerting the authorities that deal with this. Adults who peddle drugs to 9-year-olds will only be stopped if other adults step up to them. If nothing is done now, before too long it will be a problem that no-one can deal with and where will that leave her son?

Joanie - I get the impression that this is what Thursday is all about......the more parents there then the more they will have to take it seriously and deal with it....we'll be en masse then and they cant ignore us all!!!

Ah well, you just said what I was thinking, lol ! Goes to show great minds think alike eh? :0) Joan xxxxxxxxxxx

Jilly, when you go to your meeting ask them why they cant do anything if they're minors! If there are drugs involved I dont think how old they are should come into it.The dealers are over 10 aren't they? Then they can be prosecuted. Also, ask them about patrolling the park and other 'hangouts'. Good luck anyway x

Jilly If his mother is worried about repercussions from the youths trying to sell the stuff, I would think the best way to approach the police would be if all of the Mums got together & complained to the Police since 1) There is supposed 'safety' in numbers & 2) The Police will be more likely to take a mass demo of angry Mums seriously!!! Good luck for Thursday! Joan xxxxxxxxxxxxx

actually I agree!!! just foned my pal but she's still at swimming with her daughter.....going to speak to her further but we're going to go and tackle it together tomorrow so that repercussions cant come back singly on our kids and we'll be there to support each other too

So if its common knowledge among the kids that something's going on who's to know who did it if someone alerted the police anonymously?????? After all there are probably lots who have enough information to do so. And anonymous reports can be very, very helpful in sorting out issues like this before they become major issues. Better that than read in the local paper that a child has died through drug abuse! Angela

Jilly I agree with dawnie Crimestoppers don t ask questions and if you do nothing then its the thin end of the wedge xxx

Dawnie I have said that I will hold back till thursday's meeting....apparently one mum who did hear about it has called the police earlier today...and that is why they will be in attendance on Thursday night at the meeting.......however watch this space come thurs if we get the brush off on it

I think a lot goes on that we don't realise. I live in a very nice little town in Essex, very expensive to buy property here and some very good schools nearby BUT I've recently found out I live within a square mile of at LEAST 4 dealers (everything from Marijuana to Crack!). However, as soon as children are affected, then it must be stopped. But as I said before, be careful. There is a lot of money in drugs and some people will not be happy if their business is affected! love becx