Thanks for this post, Tom. As a dispatcher I see this every day and sometimes have to beg, wheedle or threaten police and EMS officials to write a damned report about it. On our end we don't have to see this in person, but many times we end up being these poor souls confidants, friends and mental health therapists on the phone. I can't help but wonder and worry about what happens when we hang up the phone and go on to some drunken sod who's ruining his life and everyone around him. Social services in this country (US) is (if possible) worse than in the UK. Children are ignored, let alone the elderly. Keep on trying and I will too.