my niece has aspergers syndrome and although she is 16, mentally she is only around 8-10. last night she ranaway because her mum refused to let her stay at her friends house as it was a school night. she refused to come home and the whole family was worried for her safety. her mum,my sister rang the police for help in bringing her home as she is very volatile and often threatens to commit suicide. The police told my sister that they couldnt do anything about it and basically told my sister she should let her stay at her friends house and that she was a bad mother for letting her runaway in the first place. My sister was distraught and eventually i found my niece and returned her home to her family. I was absolutely disgusted that the police didnt take this seriously especially as my niece has very severe mental health problems and she was threatening suicide. What is this world coming to when the authorities refuse to act in a serious matter. If my niece had been hurt or hurt herself they would have blamed my sister. I am really angry that they wouldnot even come to my sisters house to discuss this because my sister was in a real state and to be called a bad mother for trying to do the best by her daughter is disgraceful. I have told my sister to complain as this is not acceptable. \\\if ("") anyone has any opinions about this or has experienced anything like this please reply.

That is absolutely crazy! Did your sister tell them her daughter has aspergers? If she did, then they really should have taken her seriously. Calling her a bad mother is blowing it out of proportion. And really, "you should have let her stay at the house"??? What kind of parent IS this fruit loop???

I am more amazed at the friends parents for not backing up your sisters wishes.

Although I love my adopted country, I must say that your story doesn't surprise or shock me at all: there seems to be a deep apathy from the Police in the UK regarding anything that doesn't show up in their 'Little Book of Crimes', which includes anything on a 'family level'...

Won't go into detail here, but my step daughter (6y) went missing - we were franctic, put up posters in the neighbourhood... called radio stations... the police's contribution: told us posting posters is illegal and we are causing hysteria in the neighbourhood.

She was found, finally and is now living with us in safety - I thought police in South Africa was bad.

my niece is now back at home safely. the friends parent was "willing to foster her"!! even though she has terminal cancer. my niece is no longer friends with this girl and her behaviour has improved a lot. It is true the police in htis country are not bothered by family things etc. my son 13 was threatened with a knife two weeks ago and the school and police are not takingit seriously, one teacher even said it was a minor incident!! so much for tackling knife culture.