Man and woman arrested after footage appears to show baby given shot of vodka

Social services has said the child is safe, but it is still reportedly with the parents

A man and a woman have been arrested after footage emerged appearing to show a baby being given a shot of vodka. An investigation was launched after footage posted on social media showed a woman pouring a clear liquid from what looked like a bottle of vodka, then tipping it down the youngster's throat. The 14-second clips is believed to involve the toddler's mother. A shirtless man wearing shorts and trainers - believed to be the child's father - could be seen in the background, standing up and apparently oblivious to what is going on as the vodka was administered. During the short clip, loud music could be heard playing as the baby - who appears to be around eight months to a year old - sat on the floor with the woman. Kent police confirmed officers were called to property in Dover in the early hours of 21 June following reports of a disturbance and that a man and woman were arrested on suspicion of child cruelty. A spokesman for the force said: "Upon attending, officers were made aware of concerns for a child at an address in the area. "Actions were taken to safeguard those involved and a man and a woman were arrested on suspicion of child cruelty later the same day. "They have since been bailed and an investigation is ongoing." Social services were also tipped off about the incident, but the baby is still believed to be in the care of its parents. The duo received backlash from hundreds of social media users after the video was shared online. One woman, who didn't want to be named, said: "It's very sad. I posted about it on Facebook but it kept getting removed. "I have contacted social services who said the baby is safe, but they are still with their parents." Kent County Council confirmed it was aware of the incident, with a spokesman saying:  "I can confirm social services are aware of this and have taken appropriate action."

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