Your Confidentiality Rights if Reporting a Neighbour
Many people are often put off reporting a crime or any incidence of nuisance or anti-social behaviour for fear of the police or other authority not respecting their confidentiality, and the threat of reprisals.
Although there are laws in the UK which deal with a person’s rights with regards to privacy and confidentiality, when it comes to police matters, this all has to be weighed up in the context of the Data Protection Act, Human Rights Act and Freedom of Information Act, when you might be a witness to a serious crime and may be required to testify against an alleged offender in court.
General Guidelines
Most of the time, if you want to report a neighbour, it will usually be more appropriate to inform another organisation rather than the police. For example, this might be the Environmental Health Department of your local authority or your local housing association.Whoever you wish to make a complaint to, they will generally be able to guarantee your confidentiality. In fact, local authorities, housing associations and the police are all keen to highlight their commitment to ensuring that any information they receive from the public will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
These authorities are well aware that a lack of confidentiality could prevent people from coming forward to offer them information that might be very useful in reducing crime and Anti-Social Behaviour.
Using Remote Third Parties
Because some people might be afraid to report a neighbour over a particular issue for fear of them being identified, there have been several initiatives introduced in the UK whereby a third-party agency can act as an intermediary or ‘conduit’ between you and which ever organisation you wish to notify.Many people are simply too scared of what might happen if they walk into a police station to report something, or are worried about how it will be perceived by the rest of the neighbourhood if uniformed police officers or council officials turn up on their doorstep.
In these situations, the person reporting a complaint can do so formally, informally or even anonymously to the remote third party. They will take down all of the details from you then pass them on to the relevant authority to deal with directly so that, for example, you would not have any direct contact with the police. Alternatively, if you are worried about your confidentiality, you could always go out to a payphone and call an organisation such as ‘Crimestoppers’ anonymously.
Furthermore, all police forces and local authorities have websites these days so, unless there’s an imminent danger to safety, that might be another method you could choose to report an incident yet still maintain your confidentiality.
The important thing is to do something. The police, local authority or housing association would not want you to be wasting their time but, on the other hand, if you do encounter a serious problem which requires some kind of enforcement, it’s always far better to let the relevant authority know at the earliest opportunity before a particular problem starts to get out of hand.
Neighbourhoods can go from good to bad if left untended or if everybody turns a blind eye to criminal activity or anti-social or nuisance behaviour. So even if you report things anonymously, you can be assured that, in most cases, they will be investigated.
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Hi problem neighbours there has been cannabis issues on our street for 5 years I made anonymous reports to crime stoppers and police accused me of harassing neighbour and the whole street through the anonymous reports.
I made to crime stoppers and police also sent an email to parents landlord when trying to get evicted for allegedly harassing neighbour when reporting cannabis matters anonymously.
I have been threatened with wasting police time and also threatened with homelessness via the police and yet the cannabis issue still occurs on the street. The neighbour no longer lives at address and yet is still returning to cause issue's with a vibration through the night as well and told council was making false allegations in 2020 after parents arrest and he was release with no charges to this.
I changed my name via deed poll and police were still calling me by my original name until March 2023 and issued a resolution order for assault in previous name when neighbours father jumped me down the road and 2 harassment orders were issued in previous name in 2020.
I was accused of using the complaints process to avoid contact with police via the police commissioner for the area after requesting a right of review to my complaint when police were threatening and harassing through neighbours false allegations my solicitor made a complaint of neighbour and police harassment in 2020 and the pcso who visited me in March 2023 threatening me with wasting police time because I contacted another force outside of the area claimed our allegations were unfounded with out checking police records and also refused to speak with solicitor via stating would not deal with past issues.
The police are still trying to accuse my self of harassing neighbour when cannabis issues are still ongoing so if all you readers do make a report be prepared for harassment from police and always have recordings when reporting any issues about your neighbours.
td - 21-Aug-23 @ 10:31 PM
where can I send a report that my neighbor has been connected to my hot water for 12 years
And I find out but landlord’s don’t do nothing ,at the moment he don’t have hot water
Maddy - 26-Apr-23 @ 10:49 AM
My neighbour has new friend with 6 children,all school children,one toddler. They here all the time, basically living here,what I can hear is constantly running, screaming,banging doors,noise like they have no floor,carpet whatsoever. They also waking me up around 6 in the morning. After school they all coming here to my upstairs neighbor and fin begins. I reported them everywhere I can but nothing changes. I am so tired,cannot sleep,cannot relax on my own home. Any tops?
Kadia - 15-Apr-23 @ 10:18 PM
I live in the ground floor flat with my two teenage daughters my neighbour she moved in two years ago and she brings different men every time to her flat but the problem is we see the same front door and is the communal door for everyone and these men that she brings they all knows the address it’s disgusting and dangerous what can I do please can someone advise me.
Nish - 17-Mar-23 @ 11:50 PM
Replying to someone who was asking what to do about a neighbours rubbish. If someone is dumping rubbish outside their house, especially household waste, is considered fly-tipping. I'd contact the council.
H - 14-Nov-22 @ 4:20 PM
I too have a ring door camera neighbour filming me constantly, inciting hatred, inciting hate, encouraging others to do the same, all over an unkempt garden, have since got church friendsto assist, but they can't do it a cording to her schedule! (have mobility issues,extended stays in hospital due to gallbladder so haven't been able to go out there, she'll shout over the fence, get others to do the same,racial stuff said about my son
Who used to be here; time I will never get back... lost my mum in March so really could do without this, tell police, council mental health team all of which are as good as doing nothing but causing more friction
Another - 10-Nov-22 @ 8:23 AM
My neighbour, smokes weed, The Water Authority are trying to sort out a leak on shared ground and that the water are doing it free being a shared supply, he is saying we have to concent to it when I have good advicde we do not.
He is also saying that a shared drain is my responsibility to pay for fixing, when the same advice says no and he has accused me of not fixing it when all it needs is keeping clean in the shared pipe which I have been reliably told just needs occasionally cleaning and not something I need to pay for.
He is also claiming that someone I know is causing problems to a pet when the pet in question is under the vet for mobility problems partly due to age and a medical condition that is been treated.
He lives in a small property and is known to be aggressive to others and caused problems to other neighbours and is known to lie and cause problems.
What can be done to either stop him or get him to move?
MC - 27-Oct-22 @ 4:40 PM
I recently reported my neighbour for parking his car in front of my house and blocking two parking spaces. The complainant was to our housing association. The housing association came out and spoke to him telling him I had complained. Should this not have been confidential? It's created an atmosphere between us now and he's still parking in the same place.
Rockingrobbo - 18-Sep-22 @ 5:46 PM
Hello, how can see previous replies?
Bungy53 - 2-Aug-22 @ 7:08 PM
Our neighbours HATE us and worse, are FIXATED by us.They have made 10 various complaints to authorities and police over the years ALL where found to be unsubstantiated and/or MALICIOUS.
We’ve given up and want to move - they watch us on cctv 24/7 and they never leave their home.What can we do ? If we sell do I have to say Weirdo psychopathic neighbours or nothing ? They complain about us not the house . We feel defeated.
Spider - 1-Aug-22 @ 1:49 AM
My neighbour has accused me of saying that I will kill her cat if it comes into my garden she then posted on Facebook my name and address this is violation of my privacy what can I do
Hi - 13-Jul-22 @ 8:48 AM
My neighbourhas reported me to the policesaying that I shouted at him and I never didall i wanted was my bingo dabbers back that'sall and I asked him 5 times for themand he was going on about other things
Dan - 12-Jul-22 @ 5:20 PM
My middle aged neighbour next door is bitter and racist and I have only recently found out after 6 years of living here! She has done something very very bad to us after gaining our trust .. it is a private matter that I cannot discuss on here for fear she may see it. I was desperate for her help with this matter and she helped me but then turned on me on stupid Facebook calling me all sorts of names and telling everyone I have dirty nappies in the house and dog crap everywhere which is TOTALLY untrue!! She called my boyfriend all kinds of racist names behind his back. She reported me about the supposed dirty nappies and now I’m scared I’ll be evicted even though my home is very tidy. Why do people do this kind of thing it’s rotten! What possesses someone to make others lives a misery?
LoveIsLove92 - 5-Jul-22 @ 7:02 PM
The family that moved into the council house next door are very messy, they have lots of rubbish on there back and side gardens, black bags of general waste teaming with maggots, TVs Hoover's, broken bikes, prams and toy's galore, they don't put out the blue or brown bins at all and don't always put the black bin out, at first I turned a blind eye but it's been well over a year now and it's just getting worse, I've been round and spoken about it but nothing gets done, how do I complain anonymous and who do I contact please.
Reallyhadenough. - 17-Apr-22 @ 5:58 PM
I’m spending much time in our shared garden planting flowers and veggies. Last year everything was fine, but this year neighbour’s cat who walks on his own in our shared garden has chosen our flower beds and veggies bed to do his number2. It’s very frustrating to find every morning lots of smelly cats poo in the flowerbeds, also I haven’t put in any veggies yet cos I simply don’t want to get them grown through the cat’s poo...
I’m not sure whom this cat belongs to as I haven’t seen him with his owner, he always walks on his own. I’m tired to take his poo out every morning, it’s smelly and disgusting. Also it’s absolutely pointless cos the cat comes back every morning and simply does it again.
What should I do? Any advise is appreciated
AmyW - 14-Apr-22 @ 7:43 PM
I would like to know if my neighbour can have her ring door bell on her front door directly facing my front door which is around 4 ft apart
1234567 - 8-Apr-22 @ 11:46 AM
Recently new people moved into my next door rented property. I am not sure who's the owner. First they were couple now it's nearly 5/6 living.
Constantly smoke weed 24/7 and there are so loud and noisy till 1/2 every night. Coz of the windows open in my house now house and my clothes smell like weed. I don't want to deal with them. Please advise me
TJ - 18-Sep-21 @ 10:06 PM
We have new neighbours who have moved into a shared house by us. It has become apparent that they are using the house as a car sales outlet. They have been bringing cars and even long wheelbase vans to our cul-de-sac parking on the road repairing and even spraying them at the side of the road. I would be highly surprised if they are have a mot or tax let alone a parking g permit. Is there anything the council can do to stop this.
Lord - 17-Sep-21 @ 5:03 PM
I am complaining about loud phone conversation of my neighbour and I want to make my identity anonymous. Thank you
Bandu - 26-Aug-21 @ 6:43 PM
I am complaining about a woman that lives I65rawling Road she puts rubbish in the lane nearly every day and leaves it for the kids to spread around the lane also in that lane is 5 bins that has been there for ages and I mean ages
Titch - 24-Aug-21 @ 3:50 PM
My next door is council house,one of nasty family lives there she got multi dads kids,kidsout of control they bring different kids gangs i m really fade up.
Syed - 4-Aug-21 @ 5:10 PM
Okay so I have neighbors that have pit bulls. If I’m outside in my yard they try there hardest to come over the fence. Also the smoke weed andd I don’t like the smell of it and I have noticed the kids are smoking it too. One is 15 and the other one is 17 where can I get help to get this issue taking care of
Boots - 4-Aug-21 @ 4:16 AM
I am a council tenant for 40 yearsa Muslim familymoved nextdoor tome 1 year ago tey are neighboursfrom hell they have been sending pics to council from day 1 of my dogs and cats as they hate them also becauseI'm been intimidated by them I then unswer bac they video me they are saying im racist and they want to gather evidenceon me to take me to court they no im vulnerableI have called the police again and again I am at my wits end I want them out
Honey - 19-Jul-21 @ 4:41 PM
So my neighbour decided to take down my hedge without my consent, doing so he has raised the water table, so when it rains there is now going to be standing water. Then to compound matters, he has put up a 2 foot call within what I believe to my boundary, even after he was told not to do anything until I came back from back, as I work away from home. He waited a week and then sneakily put the wall up whilst my family was out, he intentionally waited until they went out. I put a letter through his mail box, pointing out a couple of facts:
1. Under the property act 1995, he has to give me 2 months written notice of what his intentions are, I have to reply with a letter to agree or disagree. He never did this.
2. The wall he has put up, has had no damp course completed, so guess what damp will begin to form inside the house.
3. He has build a wall on my property without my consent.
I've asked him to rectify all of the above or legal proceedings will begin.
Am I write in what I have put down above?
Boo - 4-Jul-21 @ 1:22 PM
She does not live in her bungalow but her son does with gf
Baz - 5-May-21 @ 9:19 PM
Neighbour she is not living in herv1 bedroom.bungalow but her Don and girlfriend are
Bax - 5-May-21 @ 9:18 PM
My neighbour died and someone on our road has access to his property and has been having parcels delivered daily to my neighbours house.The person with access only turned up a few weeks ago he leaves a note on my dead neighbours door to take parcels 2 doors down then removes the note after delivery. My neighbour died 7 weeks ago and has no family.
Kateskate - 12-Mar-21 @ 12:59 PM
My neighbor has been dumping his rubbish in my garden, he says that he is getting junk mail and he's getting rubbish chucked in his gardens by my brother, , So he's complained to the council, My brother said he's a boring person who he said is paranoid, the council have contacted me about this, I have asked for a copy of the complaint to read the details, plus I have photographed him chucking paper into my garden, what shall I do,
Joey - 4-Mar-21 @ 4:59 PM
hi, Just to put the other side of the situation. We moved to a small village in Herts in Dec 2019. We own a rescue German Shepherd dog, as we live next to an alley, she tends to bark when other dogs go by, the barks last nomore than 4 to 5 seconds, and as we have CCTV we can carefully monitor her behaviour. The worst day showed her barking for about 5 minutes in total all day. In September 2020 we received a letter from our Council saying that we had been reported , we had to keep a log for 3 months .In that time the complainant offered no evidence to the Council, and the case was closed. However, to our astonishment we received another complaint last week, from apparently the same person. We have to keep a log yet again despite our dog not constantly barking. The law needs to change. Why should a person be able to use anonymity to hide behind and produce no evidence whatsoever. Councils should be free to disclose the complainants details if they make unfounded allegations. The complainant is using the council to harass us, we have never even spoken to the person. Something needs to change, as once this one is over, he can do it again. That is wrong. My wife is on her nerves edge as he shouted at her last week, only he knows why, although neighbours tell us who they think it is, we don't definitely know, so cannot do anything.
moted - 1-Mar-21 @ 9:05 PM
Hi my name is Leanne Scott my mum live at 97infrimary st Blackburn my mum neighbour as got a girl living they she not living they she keep being people back to the house and a lots of shouting going on the police are all ways coming out but nothing is getting done plz can you done something about I'm not well myself
Leanne Louise Scott - 18-Jan-21 @ 4:01 PM
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