Bright Xmas lights...Police powers?

[JoPo1]

Hi folks.
Bit of a problem with a neighbour...

Came home from work yesterday and the neighbour across the avenue had put rope lights along his gutter and bright coloured lights round a tree on his front lawn. While I was watching TV the flashing lights kept distracting me and started to give me a sore head, so much so I went over and asked him to switch them off. He said I'm being ridiculous, called me an 'old ' then shut the door in my face.

Rather rude I thought but hey ho. Went home and went to bed and all I could see was flashing lights coming through my curtains. By this point I was very angry and decided to call the local police on the 101 number. The woman at the other end was very unhelpful and said it's a civil matter and not worth sending someone out. I demanded someone came out as this was affecting my sleep therefor my life and my well being. An hour later they turned up in a van and went across and spoke to him, he was in his bed so they couldn't see the full effect the lights were having. His son was at the door crying, blatantly a pre planned outburst.
They came back over and said he's going to dim them from now on. Fine, all happy.

Came home today and there's a big fking inflatable Santa wallowing around in the garden, quite literally 30ft tall. They sell them at the local garden centre so I called them to find out how many were sold today and gave them my neighbours description to see if he bought it today out of spite but they were unwilling to cooperate. I've called the police again and they'll be out within a few hours but if they don't do anything can I apply to have the lights removed or take him to court for something.
I'm livid and can't believe he's doing this on purpose. I've even had to let the cats out the back door as they are terrified of this huge Santa. And he hasn't dimmed the other lights as he promised to the police so I'm sure they will want to speak to him regarding this.

Any help or ideas what I can say to him to scare him taking them down. I was going to cut them at night but I'm afraid he'll leave them powered to stop this from happening and I can't afford to be off work.

Thanks for your help and sorry that it's long winded but I'm livid right now and all I can see is a 30ft Santa flopping around outside with his stupid son smirking at the window.

Thanks for any advice chaps!!! 👍

[Sgt Bilko]

Stop wasting police resources.

[Steffan]

I do think the OP is making much of what should at worst be a temporary problem. My advice is to avoid conflicts with neighbours. By being as reasonable and uncomplaining as possible. Good neighbour relations are hard won.

[JoPo1]

It's not wasting police resources. I'm struggling to sleep and I'm not wearing a face mask to bed. I've wore one previously and it hurt, so that's a no go.

What could I say to the police that will make them take action? I've tried taping black garden waste sacks to the downstairs window but there's still light getting in the the edges and they look ridiculous so I've had to remove them again.

[Geekman]

Surely this isn't a serious thread? If it is then I just lost even more faith in humanity.

[TheEnd]

BAN CHRISTMAS!

[ATTAK Z]

This is a wind up Shirley ???

[rouge59]

JoPo1 said:

I've tried taping black garden waste sacks to the downstairs window but there's still light getting in the the edges and they look ridiculous so I've had to remove them again.

Tremendous stuff, although with the above sentence you've allowed your faux-nimby wind up to jump the shark far too early.

[Sgt Bilko]

JoPo1 said:

What could I say to the police that will make them take action?

You could say you have a gun and you're on your way over there now. It's quite dark in the cells so you should be ok for a few days.

[s p a c e m a n]

Close your bedroom curtains?

Go over there with a pair of scissors?

[pinchmeimdreamin]

Try closing your curtains.

[WinstonWolf]

JoPo1 said:

It's not wasting police resources. I'm struggling to sleep and I'm not wearing a face mask to bed. I've wore one previously and it hurt, so that's a no go.

What could I say to the police that will make them take action? I've tried taping black garden waste sacks to the downstairs window but there's still light getting in the the edges and they look ridiculous so I've had to remove them again.

Tell them he bummed your dog?

[Steffan]

From the responses on here I suspect the OP has little support for his rant. I urge good neighbour relations. I cannot see any chance of the Police getting involved unless the OP follows the advice of Sgt Bilko.

[Jayessgee]

Sleep with your eyes closed.

[ATTAK Z]

Inflatable Santa shouldn't be too much of a problem if you've got a sharp stick

[okie592]

Geekman said:

Surely this isn't a serious thread? If it is then I just lost even more faith in humanity.

+3343545634534543545444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444432

[jackh707]

Pics or didn't happen

[Deanno1dad]

As above,really need pics...can we have one of you pointing at the 30ft santa and the full light effect in the background.

I need cheering up.

[57Ford]

Nothing you can do legally I reckon. Unfortunately, there are a lot of selfish people in the world who don't care / think about others and you may happen to live opposite one, although it's been made worse now. All seems a bit silly and your reaction of involving Police was a bit OTT, as you may have gathered from the replies you're getting and it's probably antagonised him a fair bit.
If it's really a problem for you, then it's got to be worth swallowing your pride & resentment so go and buy a bottle of whiskey or something and have a wander over. Tell him you're sorry for flying off the handle but it's a real problem for you and would he mind turning them down a bit or maybe switching them off come bed-time. That should solve it & repair neighbourly relations. It's the only way you'll get what you want.
Other than that, he's won the battle with the silly old sod across the road who's whinging about Christmas lights.

[Benbay001]

Oh my fking god.
I hope he leaves them up all through January too.