Advice Needed - Neighbour problems.
Discussion
My mother-in-law is having some issues with her neighbours who moved in last year. They had been harrassing her and making complaints about non-existent noise. Turns out that their daughter is also the local Community officer.
Anyway, around November, after the neighbour threatened to kill her dog, I deceided that enough was enough and took her down to the local police station. We told the desk sergent that she was being harrassed and that the daughter was the community officer, so not to tell her. The desk sergent takes all the details and says that someone will be out to visit over the next few days. We never got a visit, but a few days later the mother-in-law is told by the neighbour "nice try, you were a laughing stock down at the police station." I bet there is no record of us even going down the station now!
Today it all kicks off at about 14:00, with the neighbour standing in the garden shouting that my molther-in-law is sleeping with her sone. This is overheard by 4 people who are visiting. The neighbour is very aggitated so mother-in-law deceides to call 999, at least this time there will be a record of the call. 1 Hour later we call the station to ask what is happening to be told; "Uh, that's a domestic incedent and we're in the middle of a shift change, so we can't really send anyone out. We might be able to get someone to you tomorrow."
Any advice? Other than harrassment, is there anything else we should press for? Should we be going to the Wiltshire headquarters instead of our local station, considering the treatment we got?
Sorry for th rant! Just that our local BiB don't really seem to be bothered.
Anyway, around November, after the neighbour threatened to kill her dog, I deceided that enough was enough and took her down to the local police station. We told the desk sergent that she was being harrassed and that the daughter was the community officer, so not to tell her. The desk sergent takes all the details and says that someone will be out to visit over the next few days. We never got a visit, but a few days later the mother-in-law is told by the neighbour "nice try, you were a laughing stock down at the police station." I bet there is no record of us even going down the station now!
Today it all kicks off at about 14:00, with the neighbour standing in the garden shouting that my molther-in-law is sleeping with her sone. This is overheard by 4 people who are visiting. The neighbour is very aggitated so mother-in-law deceides to call 999, at least this time there will be a record of the call. 1 Hour later we call the station to ask what is happening to be told; "Uh, that's a domestic incedent and we're in the middle of a shift change, so we can't really send anyone out. We might be able to get someone to you tomorrow."
Any advice? Other than harrassment, is there anything else we should press for? Should we be going to the Wiltshire headquarters instead of our local station, considering the treatment we got?
Sorry for th rant! Just that our local BiB don't really seem to be bothered.
Videotape all the incidents. Make notes of all other altercations, put down the date, time etc, who was involved.
Keep a detailed log, then eventually theyll hang themselves, youll have it all down in tape and writing.
Do NOT include personal feelings in the log, by that i mean like the following: 20-05-2004. 10:15 am. Neighbours banging on the wall shouting abuse...i hate them all......(dont do it).
hth
Keep a detailed log, then eventually theyll hang themselves, youll have it all down in tape and writing.
Do NOT include personal feelings in the log, by that i mean like the following: 20-05-2004. 10:15 am. Neighbours banging on the wall shouting abuse...i hate them all......(dont do it).
hth
Go back and ask for an update on the incident that you logged. (Hope you got a crim reference number)
If you get messed about, simply ask for the duty inspector and that you wish to make a formal complaint. DO NOT be fobbed off with "no one is available". Tell them to find someone of a senior rank now or you will take the matter up with your MP and the local paper TODAY.
Be assertive, polite but firm. Give them the impression that you consider this has gone far enough.
Keep us posted.
If you get messed about, simply ask for the duty inspector and that you wish to make a formal complaint. DO NOT be fobbed off with "no one is available". Tell them to find someone of a senior rank now or you will take the matter up with your MP and the local paper TODAY.
Be assertive, polite but firm. Give them the impression that you consider this has gone far enough.
Keep us posted.
sorry to hear your troubles my friend.
I cannot believe that our police force is unable to assist you - well actually no I can believe it. You see they can't make any money out of this one so why bother.
Hopefully the neighbour will be caught speeding and sent to prison for a long time.
I believe in an all-or-nothing scenario.
The best thing to do is make a record of everything done to even the most trivial. Send these records on a regular basis to the Police Headquarters. Speak to a lawyer and try to get a no-win-no-fee deal. Write letters to the local papers and get your MP involved. Rally round support from the other neighbours.
And the best bit of advice - Don't ever loose your cool.
Best of luck.
I cannot believe that our police force is unable to assist you - well actually no I can believe it. You see they can't make any money out of this one so why bother.
Hopefully the neighbour will be caught speeding and sent to prison for a long time.
I believe in an all-or-nothing scenario.
The best thing to do is make a record of everything done to even the most trivial. Send these records on a regular basis to the Police Headquarters. Speak to a lawyer and try to get a no-win-no-fee deal. Write letters to the local papers and get your MP involved. Rally round support from the other neighbours.
And the best bit of advice - Don't ever loose your cool.
Best of luck.
Keep a log...everything you can...a woman in our road had terrorised the neighbourhood for years(she didn't even live here, just came to visit her mother!)....it took a while...you may need to involve your local council too.....under their charter they have a duty of care to you as a council tax payer.
It took a long time and was hard to keep calm at times ......but finally this woman has had an order lasting 5 years against her....and it seems to have worked...good luck
It took a long time and was hard to keep calm at times ......but finally this woman has had an order lasting 5 years against her....and it seems to have worked...good luck
Revenge is a dish best served cold. For this recipe you will need:
One or two big soft dog poos
One brown paper bag
Some safety matches
A small amount of lighter fluid.
Carefully scoop the dog poo into brown paper bag and check your neighbour is at home.
Very quietly, and without being seen, place the bag containing the dog poo on your neighbours doorstep.
With the help of a responsible adult, put a small amount of lighter fluid on the bag and very carefully set light to it with the matches whilst ringing your neighbours bell.
Very quickly and quietly, hide somewhere you can't be seen and watch as the recipe is served.
You may need to chew on your own flesh a little to stifle your laughter
One or two big soft dog poos
One brown paper bag
Some safety matches
A small amount of lighter fluid.
Carefully scoop the dog poo into brown paper bag and check your neighbour is at home.
Very quietly, and without being seen, place the bag containing the dog poo on your neighbours doorstep.
With the help of a responsible adult, put a small amount of lighter fluid on the bag and very carefully set light to it with the matches whilst ringing your neighbours bell.
Very quickly and quietly, hide somewhere you can't be seen and watch as the recipe is served.
You may need to chew on your own flesh a little to stifle your laughter
As I understand this the daughter is a police officer? If this is the case and you are getting nowhere with the local station then as said take it up formally with the cheif constable by letter and copy whatever they call internal affairs now as well as your mp. Keep a log of what has happened been said etc and do not enter into retaliation however tempting. Obviously make sure that they have no case ie barking dog when they are out etc and take the moral high ground and do it correctly. Good luck
The first step is to arrange an interview with the station Inspector and explain what has happened so far.
The second step is to request a meeting with the area beat officer Sgt and state your grievance about the problem and the lack of response. If the beat officer is related then they will have to allocate another officer to deal with the situation. The fact that the area beat officer has a mother who is a nightmare should not alter the fact the her colleagues have a duty to deal with it.
If there is no satisfaction from the above course of action, there is no reason that you should not register an official complaint through the Station Inspector. You do not have to do this at the station that covers the area your parents live in. A station several miles away and preferably not on the same division will suffice. You can even complain to a station in a neighbouring force if you believe that the problem is being ignored because of a certain amount of Nepartism.
The second step is to request a meeting with the area beat officer Sgt and state your grievance about the problem and the lack of response. If the beat officer is related then they will have to allocate another officer to deal with the situation. The fact that the area beat officer has a mother who is a nightmare should not alter the fact the her colleagues have a duty to deal with it.
If there is no satisfaction from the above course of action, there is no reason that you should not register an official complaint through the Station Inspector. You do not have to do this at the station that covers the area your parents live in. A station several miles away and preferably not on the same division will suffice. You can even complain to a station in a neighbouring force if you believe that the problem is being ignored because of a certain amount of Nepartism.
Well you can do it the nice way as suggested and I'm sure it will probably work out just fine.
Personally I think you are in a very delicate position with regard to the local police. I'd be inclined to do the following:
- Phone the Central Call Handling Centre of the Wiltshire force on a week day during office hours using 01380 735735.
- Ask to speak to the Public Relations department. Get the PR persons full name and position.
- Explain that out of courtesy and your normal high regard for the police, you are giving your local police force the opportunity to clear up any misunderstanding that may have arisen, BEFORE rather than after you go to the National Daily newspapers.
- Then launch into more or less what you have told us here, try to be objective about what has happened, stick to the facts of the situation and the worrying situation that you find yourself.
- You will need to give them time to investigate the situation, but insist that you are given the details of exactly who is investigating the situation and whether they have any connection to the local police serving in your specific area.
- Ask for details of their policy on how they handle these types of conflicts of interest.
- Remember you can choose your friends, but not your family, same goes for this policewoman. Just mention that you don't want to have any possibility of a conflict of interest.
At a guess there will be orders from on high to sort it, and the problem will be sorted pretty rapidly and effectively, in terms of how the police are handling it. As to the behaviour of the person themselves that might be another matter.
Should the worst come to the worst you will have a pretty solid portfolio of information to take to the National Newspapers (they love this sort of story and the police force hate them). By keeping the portfolio of information you have collected, regardless of the outcome you will have the start of the necessary information for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order should it become necessary.
By going to the top, you sort of depersonalise the problem from any potential locally organised favouritism.
Good luck.
>> Edited by thepeoplespal on Saturday 24th April 03:46
Personally I think you are in a very delicate position with regard to the local police. I'd be inclined to do the following:
- Phone the Central Call Handling Centre of the Wiltshire force on a week day during office hours using 01380 735735.
- Ask to speak to the Public Relations department. Get the PR persons full name and position.
- Explain that out of courtesy and your normal high regard for the police, you are giving your local police force the opportunity to clear up any misunderstanding that may have arisen, BEFORE rather than after you go to the National Daily newspapers.
- Then launch into more or less what you have told us here, try to be objective about what has happened, stick to the facts of the situation and the worrying situation that you find yourself.
- You will need to give them time to investigate the situation, but insist that you are given the details of exactly who is investigating the situation and whether they have any connection to the local police serving in your specific area.
- Ask for details of their policy on how they handle these types of conflicts of interest.
- Remember you can choose your friends, but not your family, same goes for this policewoman. Just mention that you don't want to have any possibility of a conflict of interest.
At a guess there will be orders from on high to sort it, and the problem will be sorted pretty rapidly and effectively, in terms of how the police are handling it. As to the behaviour of the person themselves that might be another matter.
Should the worst come to the worst you will have a pretty solid portfolio of information to take to the National Newspapers (they love this sort of story and the police force hate them). By keeping the portfolio of information you have collected, regardless of the outcome you will have the start of the necessary information for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order should it become necessary.
By going to the top, you sort of depersonalise the problem from any potential locally organised favouritism.
Good luck.
>> Edited by thepeoplespal on Saturday 24th April 03:46
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