Bewildered: Newcastle dentist Andreas Schwander with his son Philip at Redhead Beach. Credit:Natalie Grono The incident left the 70-year-old shaken and an innocent six-year-old wondering what she had done wrong. Since then the story has sparked huge debate about whether society has grown too ''paranoid''. ''People come into these matters from all different perspectives based on their own experiences and views about what is right and wrong,'' Mrs Mitchell said. ''For me, a more helpful approach in that particular situation would have been to talk to the child and the grandfather about how their day was going.'' While NSW Police argue it is ''better to be safe than sorry'', The Sun-Herald was inundated with letters, many from grandfathers who cite ''routine discrimination'' when stepping out with grandchildren in public places. Mrs Mitchell said: ''By ringing up DOCS or police, you sometimes start a chain of events that can traumatise the child and perhaps even cause a grandparent to take a step back.

Megan Mitchell: The inaugural National Children's Commissioner. Credit:Jacky Ghossein ''I applaud grandparents for becoming more involved in their grandchildren's lives. Those inter-generational relationships are absolutely critical in terms of stability and the wisdom that is imparted. It's fantastic - and essential - that children have a range of trusted adults around them.'' It is not just grandfathers feeling the brunt of spur-of-the-moment complaints to authorities. Father of three and Newcastle dentist Andreas Schwander was confronted by police with Tasers at his front door a fortnight ago. Minutes earlier, Dr Schwander had been enjoying a Sunday afternoon stroll and paddle along Redhead Beach, near Newcastle, with his 16-month-old son Philip when he was confronted by a woman in the car park yelling: ''This is not your child.'' After reassuring her he was, she demanded that he prove it. ''I refused to engage in any argument or longer discussion with the woman because she was being so aggressive,'' he said. Police confirmed to Fairfax Media that on-duty lifeguards received a report from a member of the public ''about the actions of a man and an unclothed child''. ''The witness told the lifeguards they saw the child playing unsupervised on a rock tower at the beach. A man then wrapped the child in a towel before placing the child in a car.''

The man's car registration number was passed on to police and matched to a residence about 500 metres from the beach. About 20 minutes later, Dr Schwander, his wife and Philip's two siblings were confronted at their home by armed officers. While it took 10 minutes of polite questioning, a birth certificate and a peek inside the cot for police to resolve the misunderstanding, Dr Schwander remains bewildered. ''At no time was my boy naked and if he had been, so what? I wrapped him in a towel because he was wet. ''The world has gone mad,'' he said. Detained after child's temper tantrum A child supermarket tantrum usually sparks sympathy among fellow shoppers.

But for one Sydney uncle holidaying with family in Coffs Harbour, it triggered a wave of suspicion that led to him being detained by staff. ''I took my nephew Luca to the supermarket while his mother went off to do some shopping,'' Lachlan said. ''Being a typical seven-year-old, he asked if he could have some chocolate. I explained his mother said he couldn't.'' Unhappy with the decision, the child burst into a tantrum, ''crying and calling out for his mum''. ''A woman in her 40s came up, pushed me aside and asked Luca: 'Do you feel safe? Is this man hurting you?' Confused and scared by the woman, Luca cried more.'' When supermarket management approached, Lachlan confirmed he was minding his nephew. They responded by informing him he was being ''detained'' until police arrived.

''I called Luca's mum and she came directly to the supermarket,'' Lachlan said. ''Once there, the staff were still unsatisfied she was who she said she was. She had to show her Medicare card with Luca's name on it and photos of him in her purse.'' He said: ''It has turned me off being seen in public with children unless there is a female with us.'' Rough play with father led to inquiry When Misty Dedes, 6, suffered a minor bump during a wrestle with her father, it triggered a wave of innuendo that led to her being questioned as part of a child protection services investigation. Her Melbourne mother, Pene Dedes, said: ''After watching Karate Kid on television together, Misty and her dad ended up rough-housing - which caused a few tears when she received a karate chop to the bum. It left a little bruise and I said to my partner: 'Excuse me, can you be a bit more gentle, please?' That really should have been the end of it.''

But the following week, Misty apparently told the story to her year 1 friend. The girl, in turn, recounted the tale to her mother who immediately contacted Victoria's Department of Human Services. The department called the school and Misty was quizzed by her teacher and assistant principal. Ms Dedes said: ''Needless to say, we were horrified.'' While Ms Dedes said the school handled the situation sensitively, it had triggered angst. ''It caused me to question myself as a mother,'' she said. ''Every time my daughter gets a bump or bruise, there's a part of me that feels I have to explain it. ''People need to start exercising proper judgment because this trend of over-sensitivity within society has repercussions. As a community, we have lost so much trust and faith. Perhaps that's necessary to some degree but we've now gone too far the other way. We're yet to find a balance.'' Discrimination rules when men are seen with children It seems now all men are guilty of being paedophiles till proven innocent.

Sadly, this is to the detriment of children's development as they are deprived of normal, caring, male role models. Mario Gallea, Annangrove Something completely innocent and giving a lot of joy was made to be sordid and ugly … what is happening to us? Marilyn Parsons, Springwood Try taking your young daughter to the toilet in a public place and see how long it is before the police arrive. Men desperately need someone with a voice to champion the cause for them. Geoff Young, Yarragon, Victoria

A horrifying experience changed my perception of children's safety in public places. Unfortunately, by taking time to phone the police, the filthy old pervert managed to slither away. That day I learned many things about assumptions and complacency. Anjanette Burke, Ipswich, Queensland Grandparents by the tens of thousands step up and help their offspring care for their children … Whoever made the call should have had the gumption to justwalk over and engage in a little bit of conversation. Robert Gunn, Mosman I think the days when children can safely ''frolic'' nude, particularly in any public or open area, are well and truly gone, especially on a public beach. Sheralie Styles, Melbourne, Victoria