Tricky moral issue.

[br d]

Yesterday I took all the guys that work for me out for a team building day. We went karting (which was fantastic incidentally), then had a meal, then went back to my house to get drunk, play the Wii, and generally let our hair down. I do this about twice a year as a thank you for their hard work.

I'm upstairs, chatting to a mate and listening to music when I hear a popping sound. It's bothering me so I come downstairs to look. Most of my workers are smokers who I've told to smoke outside on the drive, so when I come down all my guys are there plus some uninvited dhead I don't know who's firing a fecking paintball gun at my wall. He must be a mate of one of my guys so I tell him to feck off, I notice he has fired against my wall but I take no notice and go back inside, I don't want to make a fuss.

So I get up this morning, check out my wall for paint and see that this idiot has fired the thing over my fence against a factory over the road. There is orange paint all over this firms signs and windows. I feel gutted. I hate this sort of thing.

So I go over, explain that this came from my property, offer to pay the cleaning bill and apologize.
But the manager wants to get the police involved.
I understand his ire, but I don't really want to push my blokes for this idiots name, I'd rather just pay his damages and move on.

What would you do?

I could track this idiot down but it would cause friction with my workforce. I've offered to put things right but is that enough?

[6655321]

I don't think any of the employees would be put out of place if the guy has to pay damages. They are adults, are they not?

[TheEnd]

Tell them that the factory guy came round and has CCTV of someone firing a paintball gun from your property, and he's getting the police involved.

[trooperiziz]

Personally, I think it's fair enough that he wants to get the police involved, and I'd be more than happy to volunteer any information that you have to help their enquiries, but I wouldn't force any of your guys to name anyone, it's their choice after all.

[DrTre]

Has it actually caused damage? I thought it was water soluble/UV "deactivated"?
Police is OTT. I doubt it's even criminal damage?

[750turbo]

The disappointing thing is that the "guy" that "invited" him did not deal with it.

[br d]

DrTre said:

Has it actually caused damage? I thought it was water soluble/UV "deactivated"?
Police is OTT. I doubt it's even criminal damage?

You're right DrTre. it hasn't actually caused any damage, it can all be washed off, which I've offered to pay for, but the problem is I would be furious it it was my property. I do understand the fellas annoyance.

It's so frustrating, I'm fuming about the fact that it came from my property but it really wasn't in my control. But I'm still responsible, i'd never back out.

To be honest, I could have said nothing and they wouldn't know where it came from but I wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing I had cost them money.

[6655321]

br d said:

DrTre said:

Has it actually caused damage? I thought it was water soluble/UV "deactivated"?
Police is OTT. I doubt it's even criminal damage?

You're right DrTre. it hasn't actually caused any damage, it can all be washed off, which I've offered to pay for, but the problem is I would be furious it it was my property. I do understand the fellas annoyance.

It's so frustrating, I'm fuming about the fact that it came from my property but it really wasn't in my control. But I'm still responsible, i'd never back out.

To be honest, I could have said nothing and they wouldn't know where it came from but I wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing I had cost them money.

That'll teach you to be a good neighbour.

[davido140]

It's classed as firearms offence to piss about with a paintball gun in public. Mister nob-head could be in serious trouble. They are treated the same way as air rifles. I know this as I used to own a paintball site years ago and was well versed in the laws, unless the rules have been relaxed (which I seriously doubt) he could be in the poop. I've never known anyone to get arrested for it, but then I've never known anyone dim enough to cock about in public with something that can easily do a fair bit of ocular damage.

I'd be having serious words with the chaps that work for you, one (or more of them) is clearly a bit of a dick and thinks his boss is a soft-touch. Someone, who's wages you pay, is laughing at you behind your back.

Get in on Monday morning and read the riot act, you want a name for the police. If they are not going to give it up then let them know all their names will be handed over, I'm sure the people who were not involved will be putting some fairly serious presure on the bell-end who was that invited the "big man" with the paintball gun.

FWIW, out for drinks with your subordinates = all good, bringing them home = recipe for disaster.

Good luck, hope it works out.

Edited by davido140 on Saturday 17th October 19:40

[Famous Graham]

It is a bit anal of the factory guy to involve the police after your apology and offer to rectify, but that's his right, so fair enough.

In your position I'd be asking your friend/colleague to provide details of the "uninvited bloke" so you can pass them over to the cops. If refused, then I guess you'd have to provide your mate's details instead with the "he knows him" caveat.

Bummer.

[Zippee]

davido140 said:

I'd be having serious words with the chaps that work for you, one (or more of them) is clearly a bit of a dick and thinks his boss is a soft-touch. Someone, who's wages you pay, is laughing at you behind your back.

Get in on Monday morning and read the riot act, you want a name for the police.

This! All well and good being a nice boss BUT they need to know you ARE the boss and won't have the piss taken.

[br d]

It's a fair point David, thanks for the info.
But it's never been a recipe for disaster before, I can't judge my guys on what might happen, rather than what has happened, that way lies paranoia and mistrust.

If the guy really wants to push for criminal damage I will just have to accept it, but getting a police record for that will hurt.

[6655321]

br d said:

It's a fair point David, thanks for the info.
But it's never been a recipe for disaster before, I can't judge my guys on what might happen, rather than what has happened, that way lies paranoia and mistrust.

If the guy really wants to push for criminal damage I will just have to accept it, but getting a police record for that will hurt.

Sorry, but if the police are involved, they will want the name of the guy. I don't think YOU will get any record of any kind, after all, you approached the guy, and offered to clean it.

[Tyre_Tread]

How does it go? ....Walk quietly and carry a big stick.

Just tell all the employees what happened and ask that the person who knows who was responsible comes to see you and gives details. Then wait and see what sort of calibre of employee you have.

[davido140]

br d said:

It's a fair point David, thanks for the info.
But it's never been a recipe for disaster before, I can't judge my guys on what might happen, rather than what has happened, that way lies paranoia and mistrust.

If the guy really wants to push for criminal damage I will just have to accept it, but getting a police record for that will hurt.

but you didnt do it, and had nothing to do with it, the fact it came from your property is irrelevant, if a couple of people came into you garden and one stabbed the other one it wouldnt be your fault! The Police will want to question you if this gets reported, but they certainly wont be handing it to the CPS if they dont think it's you with the paintball gun, I'm assuming you dont even own one!

They will however want to know who it was, if the BiB are interested the questions will go like this,,

BiB: Was it you?
br d:nope?
BiB:Who was it?
br d:Dunno, was invited by one of my employees
BiB:You have your employees over for beers? Wish my sarge did that, anyway, we'll need a list of their names so we can ask them who it was.

Dont go and say it was you, or accept responsibility thats just nuts, it wasnt your fault and trust me even a minor criminal record WILL come back to haunt you later in life!

[DrTre]

You've been precisely the neighbour everyone wants, the factory owner sounds like being the sort of bloke nobody wants.

Let him contact the police then tell them what you know...which isn't much in reality....you're not even certain he was a mate of your colleagues?

[darkmark07]

Sorry, but don't see the dilemma.. If the guy responsible was one of your employees or a mate of yours then perhaps you've got an issue, but absolutely not in this case.

Give the police the names and addresses of all those who were there and leave them to deal with it.

FWIW, people who behave in this manner are the very reason why this country is turning to st. I for one would have no qualms about having a tt who behaved like this locked up.

[ofcorsa]

davido140 said:

br d said:

It's a fair point David, thanks for the info.
But it's never been a recipe for disaster before, I can't judge my guys on what might happen, rather than what has happened, that way lies paranoia and mistrust.

If the guy really wants to push for criminal damage I will just have to accept it, but getting a police record for that will hurt.

but you didnt do it, and had nothing to do with it, the fact it came from your property is irrelevant, if a couple of people came into you garden and one stabbed the other one it wouldnt be your fault! The Police will want to question you if this gets reported, but they certainly wont be handing it to the CPS if they dont think it's you with the paintball gun, I'm assuming you dont even own one!

They will however want to know who it was, if the BiB are interested the questions will go like this,,

BiB: Was it you?
br d:nope?
BiB:Who was it?
br d:Dunno, was invited by one of my employees
BiB:You have your employees over for beers? Wish my sarge did that, anyway, we'll need a list of their names so we can ask them who it was.

Dont go and say it was you, or accept responsibility thats just nuts, it wasnt your fault and trust me even a minor criminal record WILL come back to haunt you later in life!

Yupp at the very least you will never be able to legally own a firearm, if BiB get involved hand over the names then forget about it

[br d]

DrTre said:

You've been precisely the neighbour everyone wants, the factory owner sounds like being the sort of bloke nobody wants.

Let him contact the police then tell them what you know...which isn't much in reality....you're not even certain he was a mate of your colleagues?

Thanks for you support DrTre, but you can't blame the guy, this is exactly the sort of nonsense that most of us PH'rs get stressed about. I hate this immature sh!t.

I will go back and see him on Monday morning and hope we can be reasonable, but who could blame him otherwise?

[DrTre]

Yep, true, was a bit harsh on him, kind of had in mind a "grumpy codger" type but I'd be really narked too...still, hope he's reasonable about it. I guess it's just that it possibly looks worse now than it will in a couple of days.