RCMP warns of intervention because boy, 4, naked outside
The RCMP has warned a Squamish, B.C., couple not to allow their four-year-old to play outside their house, angering his parents and mystifying social workers.
Ian McIlwaine said his eldest son now fears being taken away by authorities. McIlwaine said he was on a business trip when the RCMP visited last week, spending half an hour warning his wife, Margita McIlwaine.
It became apparent a neighbour had reported an incident a few days earlier, when Tyler, 4, ran around naked while playing with his six-year-old brother, Connor, after his clothes got wet while washing the car.
The Mounties advised Margita to keep both boys in the backyard if they are nude, or they would have to ‘‘ let the courts decide’’ what is best for the children.
After his distraught wife called him, Ian ended his trip early and went to the local RCMP detachment. He was told no law had been broken. He remains unsure which of his neighbours could have reported the incident.
“Everybody compliments me on how well-behaved and well-mannered they are, very polite and they are fun, you know. Everything I do is to try to give those kids a good start; they need the first six years to mean something.”
McIlwaine said his backyard has a creek, so it is not as safe for his children to play.
Carol Ross, chair of the child welfare committee of the B.C. Association of Social Workers, said she does not have full knowledge of the case, but there appears little legal precedent for the RCMP’s visit.
“It’s not an abusive or neglectful behaviour, kids are in yard supervised and safe, having fun. It’s mystifying.”
She said she hasn’t heard of cases like this before, and that there would have to be serious allegations to elevate it to something Child Protection Services would investigate. “There would have to be reports of harm, the parents were being neglectful or harmful, and these would have to be serious. It all sounds very unusual.”
Ross says the biggest impact would be on the children’s state of mind. “When there is intervention by police or child protection, there is an impact on the children, you don’t want kids to be frightened by police,” she said. “You don’t want the kids left with any scars for something that was totally innocent.”
McIlwaine said Connor is now frightened of being removed from the home by authorities.
“He was crying because he is concerned now that the police are going to take him and Tyler away because they got naked, and it wasn’t even him, it was just my youngest son,” said McIlwaine. “But God bless him, he stands up for his brother no matter what.”
McIlwaine said he gets along well with his immediate neighbours and isn’t sure who called police. The couple wants an apology from the RCMP.
Squamish RCMP Staff Sgt. Brian Cumming issued a statement to the Squamish Chief newspaper, which first reported the story.
“I have spoken to Mrs. and Mr. McIlwaine, explained that we responded to a complaint from another citizen about their son being out on the street with no clothes on a few days earlier. They did not feel this was handled well by the officers responding despite my explanations, and I offered an apology that they were not happy and felt their son was now afraid of the police,” said Cumming.
“Mr McIlwaine suggested that his son would respond well if given the opportunity to visit the police station and meet the police in more favourable circumstances, and we have agreed to arrange for this to happen in the near future.”