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When to Get the Police Involved

By: Jeff Durham - Updated: 17 Mar 2024 | comments*Discuss
 
Getting Police Involved Local

People tend to be divided into two camps when it comes to getting the police involved in a neighbourhood dispute or when something untoward is happening in their neighbourhood. There are those who will tend to think that the problem isn’t serious enough to warrant calling the police when they’ll have far more important issues to deal with. Then there are those who will call the police at every given opportunity, no matter how trivial, as they believe that a call to the police is the quickest and most effective way of getting a successful resolution to a specific problem.

When Should I Call The Police?

If a crime is taking place right now or you feel you are in imminent danger and that an immediate response is required, you should always dial 999 as this is an ‘emergency’. It might be that you’ve been threatened by your neighbour and that they are banging on your door looking to gain entry. It could be that you’ve already been Physically Assaulted By Your Neighbour. In situations like this, 999 is the right option. Explain the situation to the person handling the call giving them as much as detail as possible, as well as your address and your neighbour’s address.

It’s important, however, to remember that 999 is for emergency responses only. If you’re the kind of person who dials 999 at the merest hint of believing that something happening is not quite ‘right’, this is a serious misuse of the service. For every call that isn’t an emergency, you could be taking up valuable police time which could be spent getting to incidents where people’s lives may be in real danger.

The Difference Between Calling 999 and my Local Police Force

The police keep records of all calls made to them and by far the most worrying issue is that most, if not all, forces would tell you that perhaps as little as 20% of calls made to 999 (and often even less than that) are calls that they would consider actual ‘emergencies’. Therefore, unless an actual crime has been committed or someone is in imminent danger, the best alternative is to call your local constabulary's number instead.

If you’ve looked out of your window and you see a group of youths aggressively arguing with each other on the street, or perhaps a Dangerous-Looking Dog is patrolling the street without an owner in sight, call your local constabulary. While both of these incidents could potentially evolve into serious situations, no actual crime has yet been committed nor is there any proof of imminent danger. Incidentally, it’s always handy to keep a note of your local local constabulary's number either written down or stored in your mobile phone in case you need to make a speedy call.

Ultimately, however, if you’re in any doubt at all about which to number to call, the police would still advise you to call 999 in case it is a genuine emergency. If you deliberate for too long or then decide not to call at all for fear of wasting their time, a serious crime may end up being committed which you may have helped to prevent.

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My Brother has two grandchildren living with him who has been turned out of there own homes, he is 86 and is unable to turn them out because of his age, the both of the lads have been in trouble with the police, I have been told that they are dealing in drugs from the Bungalow
none - 17-Mar-24 @ 11:07 AM
my recently moved in old couple in oppiste flat have wanted me out of my parents' home (owned by them) and invaded all my rental units situated far away and caused neighbors to steal,break in,tamper with all my rental units. I have lost job opportunties and housing rental optionsdueto their handiwork and malicious gossip and stalkign and theft. All this is happening in a neighborhood unknown for theft. THis is breaking me mentally and financially. I am unable to move quickly ,being a single woman without a steady job. I am affected by her vicious gossip and manipulations . She wants me out of t he parent' house so that she can 'live' in peace with her family. Started a pattern of gangsttalking and community harassment which was untoward in my area. I've moved 4 units in 6 months. Very unusual of the owner too ,Feeling unsafe everywhere i go. Destroying us(me,family) mentally,finacially. WHat should ido ? Feeling helpless.
neela - 2-May-23 @ 6:14 PM
hi there i need advice what to do if few times in a week (mainly evening) come to our block with 6 flats 2 suspicious drug addicted persons and inject drugs into hands.is blood drops on steps and rubbish everywhere what i should do ???
sidney - 12-Mar-23 @ 1:38 AM
Good morning, I’ve sought support to cope with unfair anti social neighbour behaviour previously on a different site’ but the housing association discovered my complaints and still don’t believe me! I’ve had to waste my precious and limited time sending multiple recordings across various and many now lost and stopped working devices , I’ve sent in logs written and typed, I’ve had noise monitor out in by the council, I’ve attended in person meetings and tried everything other than acting with aggression or taking it to court. But now I’m not going to be kind any more! Today I’m in so much pain including dental and I am not coping. I can’t get outside even to a pharmacy and in Thai flat I don’t even have the liberty to make calls in peace because of fear of my neighbour sharing my personal details with others. He and his equally vicious and racist neighbours have already loudly banged and verbalised the most offensive things about me including of my single status, my unemployment status (not that’s it’s ANY of their business!),my ethnic minority status, my obviously not having any family or friends, so essentially they’ve preyed on the fact I have no one and nothing to defend myself with other than me! I am a lone living woman, with multiple vulnerabilities and concerns, and currently not in work and I have been subjected I’m in the process of trying to find a different living space but as you will know it’s not an easy journey for us all to simply get up and go especially with limited social housing availability as well as financial struggles. Plus it cost me time, stress and money just to get into this upstairs, small, unsuitable flat which was an empty and dire state over which I’ve had to cover the ugliness, the damage, the obscene painting and graffiti (another graffiti was discovered recently in the locked front shed)and honestly you wouldn’t believe how horrid a state of flat the housing association gave me! Carpeted, wallpapered, and somewhat furnished (still no dining table, sofa, cabinet, coffee table or other things I consider essential to a comfortable home) I’ve made this flat that I rent my home, my headquarters, my hideaway from the world … only I’m not safe, I’m not free, I’m not okay! The downstairs neighbour whilst seeming innocent to others is a definite pervert and I don’t make such accusations lightly or casually. He’s sat at bus stops when I get off the bus and then walks behind me, when he comes back on his bike he stops behind me for ages even though his flat in front of the steps I have to get up , he bangs (doing it now at 08:58), he’s called me a clown, a c***, and other offensive things and I’ve recorded it and shown together housing and they still do nothing about it, I know when to choose my battles and I’ve been to rough so many traumas in my life but just think of the trouble for a woman who left home , became homeless, went to refuges, waiting ages on a social housing wait list, and finally got offe
Patience Personified - 28-Jan-23 @ 9:25 AM
Good morning, I’ve sought support to cope with unfair anti social neighbour behaviour previously on a different site’ but the housing association discovered my complaints and still don’t believe me! I’ve had to waste my precious and limited time sending multiple recordings across various and many now lost and stopped working devices , I’ve sent in logs written and typed, I’ve had noise monitor out in by the council, I’ve attended in person meetings and tried everything other than acting with aggression or taking it to court. But now I’m not going to be kind any more! Today I’m in so much pain including dental and I am not coping. I can’t get outside even to a pharmacy and in Thai flat I don’t even have the liberty to make calls in peace because of fear of my neighbour sharing my personal details with others. He and his equally vicious and racist neighbours have already loudly banged and verbalised the most offensive things about me including of my single status, my unemployment status (not that’s it’s ANY of their business!),my ethnic minority status, my obviously not having any family or friends, so essentially they’ve preyed on the fact I have no one and nothing to defend myself with other than me! I am a lone living woman, with multiple vulnerabilities and concerns, and currently not in work and I have been subjected I’m in the process of trying to find a different living space but as you will know it’s not an easy journey for us all to simply get up and go especially with limited social housing availability as well as financial struggles. Plus it cost me time, stress and money just to get into this upstairs, small, unsuitable flat which was an empty and dire state over which I’ve had to cover the ugliness, the damage, the obscene painting and graffiti (another graffiti was discovered recently in the locked front shed)and honestly you wouldn’t believe how horrid a state of flat the housing association gave me! Carpeted, wallpapered, and somewhat furnished (still no dining table, sofa, cabinet, coffee table or other things I consider essential to a comfortable home) I’ve made this flat that I rent my home, my headquarters, my hideaway from the world … only I’m not safe, I’m not free, I’m not okay! The downstairs neighbour whilst seeming innocent to others is a definite pervert and I don’t make such accusations lightly or casually. He’s sat at bus stops when I get off the bus and then walks behind me, when he comes back on his bike he stops behind me for ages even though his flat in front of the steps I have to get up , he bangs (doing it now at 08:58), he’s called me a clown, a c***, and other offensive things and I’ve recorded it and shown together housing and they still do nothing about it, I know when to choose my battles and I’ve been to rough so many traumas in my life but just think of the trouble for a woman who left home , became homeless, went to refuges, waiting ages on a social housing wait list, and finally got offe
Patience Personified - 28-Jan-23 @ 9:09 AM
I live in a 55 and over park and ihad ptsd but its now cptsd because of the manager stalking and harassing me every day while drunk as hell, i finally told him that it was not appropriate to conduct park business intoxicated, i recieved a 30 day eviction notice next day because the man fixing my roof was homeless, i got a restraining order and he was fired but not before enlisting people to spread gossip that was not true, and this week it went to a new level where 2 different guys made comments about my nipples and the other was worse, also caught a neighbor pointing a bebe gun at my cat , ive come to the conclussion that because im disabled that its ok, ohanother neighbor spread the rumor that my best friends death was my fault,ive reported all this but im getting nowhere and has effected my health so much that my life is basically over, i do have many journals ,photos, text and can proof it , what should i do
crazycat - 24-Dec-22 @ 2:49 PM
22.12.22 Dear sir or madam I've got video evidence of neighbours either side of me maliciously gossiping about me . And over the past six years I have witnessed the same guy visiting lots of other neighbours and spreading malicious gossip about me. Please inform me of can I get them arrested and charged etc?--- or how much will it cost for me to file civil lawsuits against them? please ?? contact me asap. thanks. Regards Terry Connor 077 48 99 44 20 01744 63 62 63
TJ - 22-Dec-22 @ 1:58 AM
My naighbour constantly sits in his flat every day and night smoking drugs the smell is unbearable Iam fed up of the smell it comes into my flat and makes it stink bad Iam always buying air freshener to try hide the smell but they don’t work the smell gets worse I wish the police would do something about this it’s making me feel really bad. He has a little dog that poos all over the garden so that added to the smell Iam just so fed up with him .
Angie - 1-Sep-22 @ 1:36 PM
I have had a neighbor lying about me so I left her notes to stop.I even mentioned in a note that I heard she was moving as I heard from a few tenants. I told her I wish she did. Then the board of directors got an attorney saying mold ( coming from wall) and bad floors are my responsibility to pay for.My attorney says it’s not. I have complained to the maintenance man about incompetence in regard to no returned phone calls, telling me they are too busy and not being able to speak at a board meeting.I have complained via text to him. Is this considered harassment?
Monica - 14-Jun-22 @ 7:27 PM
I wanted Non Emergency. I thought 999 was emergency So I phoned 911 from a mobile in error and they said it was emergency services. Just to confuse things further 112 in Europe or UK will put you through to Emergency services. It turns out 101 is the local police number in the UK. I only got through to a voice system. Last time I tried to use the number was to report a left rucksack in a bus shelter. There could have been anything in it so I was not going to check it out. I was held in a queue for half an hour so gave up....
Newell - 30-Aug-21 @ 9:26 AM
Similar situation, so me I wont bother asking for help, they can discriminate me & say what the hell they like, in my eyes being homeless means I have nothing less to lose & people can say as many lies as they want, I was thought of then(joke) I'm not giving them a second thought, I wont lie & I cant be arsed with their lies, homeless means that stress goes away, no more loss, big sigh, shame on them, it may be them one day, & what you dont have you dont miss, nobody helps me & I helped them, they have to worry about life what they lose now I dont, they will be last chapter, let them be in a unhappy lifestyle, glad to get out of their neighbourhood, I will protect my life & face troubles as they come, but I wont be bullied, anymore, I'm ready to defend myself alone, I wont lose my pride on asking for help anymore, sad I know but now is important to me, so my advice stand up to them dosnt matter what material things mean theres a whole world out there forget the bad stuff em all live your life & be happy we only have 1 life let them wollo on sad lifes of others they are toxic cruel people you dont need them my 2 fingers go up to them bye sad ones . Hope you feel better as you ain't alone.
Mandy - 3-Jul-21 @ 8:53 PM
moderation. I live upstairs and I am african, my neighbor downstairs is Caucasian, she harasses me everyday and claims i am disturbing her, even after I switched off all my appliances so as not to bother her, my neighbors interceded for me by asking her why she treats me like that because she was calling police everyday and I tried explaining to her that I have no control over my movements to the toilet and she screamed at me this morning like she doesn’t even want to see me at all. I am emotionally disturbed…. im being bullied by her because I am african…I tried complaining to the landlord but they took her side….im trying to move out for peace sake but my lease was recently renewed. I need help…
C - 4-Jun-21 @ 10:06 AM
My neighbour . The male has been put in prison for dealing class A drugs, his partner had a baby not long before he was put away. She now drives a brand new 4x4 and had her garden fences extended in height to about 8ft, and wrought iron gates put up over the garden gates. And 2 pitbull like dogs that are huge. people come and go, all kinds of jobs have been done to the house she is supposed to work part time ,yet you rarely see the car move she is a young woman. And in my experience in life you couldn't possibly afford to buy your first time home out right .think bank of mummy and daddy had a lot to do with the house purchase as a cover. Something definitely is sitting right with me and other neighbour's we know something is going on but how can it be proved.
DJgrayo - 23-May-21 @ 8:27 AM
My neighbour has been saying my husband arranged to have a house burgled .that caused the lady who house was burgled to keep throwing dog mess in poo bags on our garden .police stop that after I caught her on cctv..then could not think who could have said such a horrible lie. Then we here she is saying my husband isa drug dealer he is 72 in bad health .now she has started putting her two fingers up as she passes me in her car .can’t stand much more of this
Jass - 11-May-21 @ 6:00 PM
Next door neighbors continued even though I have asked them several times to stop throw their snow on my house. My basement windows are blocked as much asover12 inches of snow, When the snow melt the water flow into my basement, wreaking my foundation. Whose shall I call for help?
1preacher - 1-Feb-21 @ 8:31 PM
Does anyone have the answers to your respective problems? I can empathise with everyone of you and wonder whether anyone has had a favourable outcome since you last posted about your problems. Mine has high probability of drug dealing, with asb as a byproduct. We are a normal law abiding family with the opposite as neighbours. The Police appear very tolerant to our experiences of asb and we have put our property for sale to run away from what will be a long term problem. But we wished we were not pushed out of our home
Josephine - 26-Jan-21 @ 7:35 PM
I have been living next door to neighbours who change a lot a house of multiple occupation ever since the currant owner purchased the house there have been intermittent fumes and odours Coming in foul smelling chemicals we have ha first. Cat piss acetone ethanol shoe polish and many other corrosivechemicals smells like meth at times but right now last night and the day and night before smells like antifreeze we get sore throats stinging eyes feel sick cough painful nose Smells everything skin hair and so on we don’t sleep have to open the windows The landlord says nothing going on prove it if we prove it he will attend to it. My go has all the records of the injuries we have from the fumes I have been hospitalised once for five days and no one wants yo believe us Environmental health have said we will just have to get used to the fumes. Last night we had all the said symptoms and more the fumes came into our hous st 8pm and stopped at around 2am we surely have some human rights that we can live in our own home in safety
Orange aid - 27-Nov-20 @ 7:11 PM
I write this as I at a loss as what to do in my situation, I went to the council to report harassment by neighbours, nothing was done despite diary notes then next door neighbour threatened to beat us up as she was banging down the door council then went to her she denied it, then accused us of dumping rubbish at her door more than once, no proof, no previous complaints about this tenancy officer believed her, despite me telling them that neighbours were harassing us went round to neighbours with police to talk to them Then received a letter tellling us we were the perpratrators of anti- social behaviourand noise nuisance, so they were all believed, they now want to speak to my son about an incident and he has done nothing, i have complained to the council and now am on a stage 2 complaint but the council are believing the neighbours who are all standing together, I am at a loss as what i can do, even the police are beliveing these neighbours and this has all happened after i sent my letter to the council. These neighbours have been harasing us for some time, all summer we were not allowed to enjoy our garden, continuous noise in garden on a rota basis carried out by different neighbours, music being played when sitting out in the garden, none of them are being obvious with this harasment not direct. The council and the police are believing all these neighbours and because they are all standing together, me and my son do not have a leg to stand on The police have been called on me, dont even know why, did not say what they were there for, applied for a freedom of information request, was not given this information from the police, refused me the information. we are at a loss, dont know what to do, tried everything we are being persecuted by these neighbours and I have no where to turn to, the laws in place are not working, police and council are harassing us as well, enabling more harassment from these neighbours. Because more than one neighbour is saying the same thing, that makes us guilty of all the things they are lying about. This situation is making us both ill, keep hitting a dead end. I need help
Bonita - 21-Nov-20 @ 3:51 PM
I live in a building with three flats. The other two flats are occupied with two people who cook, smoke and deal crack. It absolutely stinks and I'm often stunk out with varying smells not dissimilar to burning rubber and chemical odours which cling to clothes and skin and no amount of plug ins a air freshener sprays mask it. Told the police back in April after telling the agency the properties are rented through of the problem, and this was their advice to me. Here now towards the end of October and nothing has changed. Different people in and out of the building. They even removed the lock on the main front door for easy access. Even in lockdown this happened and late night parties. At a loss of what to do. Even confronted one of the other tenants and he just blatantly lied and denied any wrongdoing. His first words when I told him I knew what he was doing and asked him to stop were, "I drive for Asda and they do drug tests", as though this was evidence of his innocence. But, to be sure, if I took it into my own hands to stop it then I'd certainly be the one arrested and punished for wrongdoing.
Paul - 25-Oct-20 @ 10:10 AM
I read every single comment in this page and the most comment just the same exactly right now to my family when gangsters drug user and drug dealer next door. They are renting the house next to my house and they have been harrassing me and threatening me and my family for 2 years. Call police can not help anything. Please idea?
Anh Cu - 16-Oct-20 @ 1:25 AM
We live next door to a drug dealer. First it was the son, now it’s the mother since we called him out on it. The amount of people coming day after day is ridiculous.We don’t open windows and never sit outside anymore.Its a miserable existence.
Sue - 11-Sep-20 @ 6:05 PM
I have had over 4 years of neighbours damaging my garden boundary until it is now so bare and the I have their dog charge up against their wire fence coming barking trying to get at me. . If I walk down my drive as damage was cause during Spring persons has cut and damaged made so bare and even in the last weeks I have heard person next door cutting and pull more out to bare . I have inform althorties and in the police has seen footage of person in rear garden next door cutting through and damaging my garden but still it has been damage again.
Jack - 1-Aug-20 @ 10:15 PM
I have had over 4 years of neighbours damaging my garden boundary until it is now so bare and the I have there dog charge up against their wire fence coming barking. If I walk down my drive in spring persons has cut and damaged made so bare and even in the last weeks I have heard person next door cutting and pull more out to bare . I have inform althorties and in the police has seen footage of person in rear garden next door cutting through and damaging my garden but still it has been damage again
Jack - 1-Aug-20 @ 10:10 PM
Simply put the police dont want to act on neighbours selling drugs wouldnt be surprised if they are somehow getting kickbacks. We have issues on our road numerous complaints to police nothing is ever done. Useless puts no faith in the system.Makes the whole street stink dangerous with kids playing outdoors.
Harry - 31-Jul-20 @ 11:16 AM
I have reported my neibours drug dealing we cannot have our windows or doors open because of the smell I reported it to crimstoppersvehicles names descriptions I might as well talk to a brick wall nothing was done bloody useless ever since the council moved them in we have had to put up with this even on nice days having friends and family around we can’t go into the garden it’s getting to much especially now we have my daughters new born baby I will do something I don’t want to then the police WILL COME AROUND BUT IT WILL BE TO ARREST ME NOT THEM ????????
Georgie - 24-Jul-20 @ 7:56 PM
Hear i am 5 years on sleep deprivation from all i can describe as living next door to a probable cannabis factory along with them (neighbours)using an indoor generator all night every night, im exposed to vibrations and a deep heavy buzzing and mechanical droning noise the environmental agency picked up on unusual frequencies and an idling deasel generator noise but so far has taken no action the police, the council i feel has failed in their duty of care and i feel incredibly frustrated and let down, its like being tortured and ignored
Redwhale - 19-May-20 @ 11:52 PM
Same here. Yet mines a stalking ex, who has enlisted the local drug dealer to follow me, and gets all the other neighbours to harass me, telling others I flash my boobs at children and throwing stones at my windows. He still stalks me even though I dumped him before xmas, he is a pervert and I found he had 3 other women and they were all paying for his lifestyle and his house. I outed him and his lies, yet he has got all the locals to listen as they are all using the same dealer and all on cocaine, or heroin. They use their kids to attack also, and the person living below me is also a druggie and he tries to bully and upset me and my family. This is all been going on for 3 or 4 years now.. the ex has just used the gossip to stalk me and follow me before I met him..then convince me hes not heard anyone talking about me..and since splitting I've seen his in with all the cokeheads that inhad trouble with before, and hes everywhere I am..no matter what time of day..he will be there..watching and stating..and telling everyone I'm the bad guy. Police do nothing, they have said, somethings happens, then call..but until he does something, we cant do anything. Its hell on earth in this god forsaken offering strange town and I'm not alone with these points, the reviews on leysdown speak volumes. There is a definate bullying against women tactic going on in this town, a girl was rwped by 4 men in a caravan, last year.. the local cokeheads said she deserved itwalking into the caravan, drunk...says it all. I have a daughter and a son 24 and 12, both asd, and the council, or police wont do anything. It's unbearable and we dont have any decent quality of life
Chrissy - 16-May-20 @ 4:39 AM
I havedealt with this bullying for 10years and currently although that being moved, she’s hired other neighbors to continue harassment behaviors as she still possess anger at me for purchasing the home SHEWANTED! I’ve been a social worker/therapist for 40 years and living in this Dysfunction Junction of sick ocuopaths and a stocker/drug manufacturer behind me has been the worst hell ever ibut I can’t afford to move and rarely receive police assistance as she reportedly gave donations to this police jurisdiction. Stephen King-Eat your heart out-this is a real horror movie or Dateline Episode!
Jan - 15-May-20 @ 6:45 PM
I have drug dealing neighbours living next door to me. I called 101 to tell them about the drugs being stored at the property and the smell they make. If it's not an emergency the police don't care, might as well tell them my neighbours are selling smarties.
Lo - 26-Dec-19 @ 4:58 PM
I'm being stalked daily in my own flat banging floors walking heavy with boots on this person has a history off upsetting his neighbours who live underneath him 6people in 3yrs have vacated the property I'm number 7 my housing association arnt doing much to help me I have bipolar and personality disorder I just feal like living on the streets much quieter
Richie - 18-Dec-19 @ 7:25 PM
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