I kick arse at hide and seek!

Legionreturns

Some of you know that I work with extremely volatile kids for a special school, on the outreach team. Sometimes those kids go awol and parents aren't much use. Today was one of those days.

The student in question is extremely volatile, and anti police or any authority figure. He's been absent for two days and not at his home address. No success contacting either parent (they live separately, 25 miles apart and are both useless). 

Our next step, by the letter of the law, was to contact the police and report him missing. Knowing that this would be something he saw as a breach of trust and probably a violent disengagement, I requested a chance to try and track him down today before we did that at close of business. 

I've done 140 miles, covering a number of his usual hangouts in 3 major towns and one city, and my last hunch was to try the school gate of another school at kick out time, because I know he has mates at that school. I drove past once, and sure enough, there he was with a group of around 20 other lads from his crew. Parked round the corner, put on a jacket to cover up my school badge. (Approaching him with school uniform on and id badge flashing, whilst correct procedurally, would have embarrassed him more and could easily have been a flash point). I walked up to him, "Hi mate, can I have a quick word?" 

"What the FUCK are you doing here?" He exclaims, very loudly. 

"I needed to make sure I've seen you, and that you're safe. Our next step, by law, was to call the police. I don't want that and neither do you. Will I see you tomorrow?" 

"For fucks sake. Fine, I'll be at *** at *** o'clock" 

"Good, and are you ok?" 

"Yeah"

"Good lad, I'll leave you be. See you tomorrow" 

Pat him on the back and walk off. 

Immediately I'm back at the car I ring the school I'm outside, explain the situation and who I am, with phone numbers and giving my bosses details as their member of staff on the gate saw this, and I should have identified myself but couldn't for the reasons given above. 

Bit of an adrenaline come down now, hence posting here as I can't talk to anyone about it. Now writing up reams of paperwork including the justifications for all my decisions and safeguarding forms. 

I've just found one lad, given an area the size of 2 counties to search, in under six hours. 

I fucking win at hide and seek! 

That is all. 

BRISTOL86

Wow. Sounds like you handled that extremely well. Well done mate. 

Sporky

I thought you could only claim a conclusive win if he takes longer to find you in the next round?

cj73

@legionreturns well played sir, well played

Garthy

So what was he up to for 48 hours?

Legionreturns

Sporky said:

I thought you could only claim a conclusive win if he takes longer to find you in the next round?

I've got a car. He's got an expired bus pass. That's too much of an advantage.

Garthy said:

So what was he up to for 48 hours?

At a friend's house having had another rumble with useless dad. 

munckee

I thought this was going to be a great wheres wally type picture.

Disappointment aside I have a son at a special needs school who could go more that way if he doesn't at some point agree to do as he is told to by school, if so its good to know there's people who are prepared to put themselves out,

jellyroll

Using your judgement to override procedure - wish people did that more often. 

Legionreturns

jellyroll said:

Using your judgement to override procedure - wish people did that more often. 

It's a very "think on your feet" job. By the book people don't last five minutes! 

strumjoughlamps

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p7xN3Z7890o

Legionreturns

Legionreturns said:

jellyroll said:

Using your judgement to override procedure - wish people did that more often. 

It's a very "think on your feet" job. By the book people don't last five minutes! 

Also, being frank and honest, I didn't want a kick off with that many of his mates hanging around, many of whom are known to carry knives and happy to use them. A little bit common sense, a lot of self preservation!

VimFuego

nice one, good job there.

personally I'd have gone the full liam neeson on him, this may explain why I don't work with anything more emotionally complicated than roses. 

Legionreturns

VimFuego said:

nice one, good job there.

personally I'd have gone the full liam neeson on him, this may explain why I don't work with anything more emotionally complicated than roses. 

Yeah...that would have got me jumped, and it would have hurt with that many of them there! 

axisus

You get a big wow for me. Congrats on being great at an incredibly demanding job

Legionreturns

axisus said:

You get a big wow for me. Congrats on being the only one mug enough to do an incredibly demanding job for peanuts

FTFY  

beed84

Legionreturns said:

"Will I see you tomorrow?" 

"For fucks sake. Fine, I'll be at *** at *** o'clock" 

Considering he hasn't actually told you where he'll be or at what time, I reckon tomorrow you're gonna have a tougher game on your hands. Good luck 

jonnyburgo

Good call mate, in our place we have to report missing after 1 hour, we have a few runners so the local cops are thoroughly pisssd off with us.

bloodandtears

well done pal

LuttiS

You've got enough wows there.. have a wis for winning the game.

So.. question everyone's wondering..  did he turn up today? 

Legionreturns

LuttiS said:

You've got enough wows there.. have a wis for winning the game.

So.. question everyone's wondering..  did he turn up today? 

It's a bit early yet...

LuttiS

Legionreturns said:

LuttiS said:

You've got enough wows there.. have a wis for winning the game.

So.. question everyone's wondering..  did he turn up today? 

It's a bit early yet...

Jees.. Some of us have been at work since.. uh.. earlier


How bout now?