Baby theft in the WATERLAND movie

The depiction of Tom Crick’s wife as a baby stealer and his intercession in the scene with the local Police seemed to me to be completely unrealistic and relaxed. Baby theft in Britain occurs quite occasionally and the abduction of toddler Bulger a number of years ago has highlighted the dangers of such a crime. The fact that Mrs Crick was obviously mentally ill as a consequence of sterility resulting from a “back street abortion” is dismissed lightly when her husband intercedes and returns the child to the arms of its rightful mother.

If such an incident took place in Britain today, the Cricks would find themselves immediately under arrest for child abduction. The whole scene is handled so casually in the movie as to beggar belief. For sure Mrs Crick would have to undergo a course of therapy, probably while in gaol. Mrs Crick’s explanation that “God had given her a child” when it was stated quite clearly that she had been rendered sterile following the teenage abortion, would not excuse her actions.

Did this scene ring untrue to any other viewers?