It's a difficult one, EMB because people are always so quick to blame the police and social services when reports of child neglect and/or child abuse are not properly investigated so... I quess they are stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to dealing with these type of reports.

I blame the old busybody who reported the mother in the first place - surely they could see that the mother was just taking her well-cared for child out of the house for a bit of fresh air and exercise?