“If I don’t take this further the child is going to remain at risk, but if I’m wrong, I’m just wrong.” No, if you're wrong the entire family will be in severe trouble anyway. Think twice before you intervene and how you do it. These days it is far easier to cause more harm than help to a family by rash interference.

Chris Waclawik, Arnprior, Canada

Why is ANY of this our problem? This Government has paid good 'wages' to people on benefits to raise kids. When they turn out to be unsuitable parents and produce badly behaved unco-operative adults then it's our problem again? I wouldn't approach anyone at any time because their bad behaviour, no matter how it affects me, is not my responsibility. This Government has created this climate of lawlessness and it's up to them to sort it out. My advice to people would be to look after themselves first because those misbehaving are quite often thugs.

Judy , Liverpool, england

Is slapping children illegal yet or not? I don't think it is. Why not make it illegal, otherwise what is the point of complaining to the police?

Tina, South Wales, UK

Calling the police? for seeing a parent slap a child? Obviously they're aren't busy enough with real criminals say muggers, burglars, car thieves, drug dealers......... do you really think this is on the same level??? Get real.

David Woodhouse, Lowestoft,

Yeah 99% of the time they will put it out?? Your joking? You live in the UK right? Some guy in the local town of Buckingham where I live, Quiet place, had a bottle over his head when he asked some girl to stop smoking.. Do NOT ask people to stop smoking unless you can expect any type of response! Look at the poor guy shot in the face.. Mark Hastings should resign..

Adam Webb, MK, UK

In the case of a smoker in a bar, I'd go straight to the landlord, and if that didn't help, I'd call the police immediately. I've had to put up with that filthy smoke quite long enough thankyou.

And if I saw a parent violently slapping a child, it would be the police I called first, before even saying a word to the parent.

Vincent Murphy, London, UK

i do not believe any parent would respond politely if you told them not to slap their child because at the end of the day, that child is their own, fair enough slapping the child is a little too extreme but i am sure in 99% of cases, the parent is likely to respond to you with a very abusive manner and they'll tell you it is none of your business so i would only get involved if the situation escalated and the child was hit in a really heartless way.

Hassan, wembley, united kingdom

You have only to go through the past pages of this paper to see that innocent people have been stabbed through the heart for less. Being a model citizen, was the thing to do in a bygone era when the carrying of knives or worse guns, was just something that didn't occur.
Personally I would not make myself involved in any of these scenarios. Coward? Yes. But I have a wife and two children at home.

Michael Man, Hull, England

i don't care, nothing to do with me. So why should i care?

Siggy, Oslo, Norway